Sudan stage-manages anti-UN rally
More than 100,000 people marched through the Sudanese capital Khartoum today in a state-orchestrated rally against the UN resolution that gives the African nation 30 days to stop the violence of Arab militia in Darfur province.
“No to America and its followers!” chanted the protesters, who were led by the secretary general of the ruling National Congress party, Ibrahim Ahmed Omar.
They presented a memorandum to the UN envoy in Sudan which accused UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan of misleading people on the nature of the situation in Darfur, which the world body has described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The Security Council resolution has given Sudan 30 days to disarm the Arab militia, who have been blamed for the deaths of thousands of people. If resolution is ignored, the council could impose a range of diplomatic and economic penalties.
The UN and international aid organisations have accused the pro-government Arab militia, known as Janjaweed, of waging a brutal campaign to drive Sudanese citizens of African origin out of Darfur.
An estimated 30,000 people have been killed in the 17-month conflict; a million people have been forced to flee their homes and an estimated 2.2 million people are in urgent need of food, medicine and other basics.
