Germany calls for probe on rights violations in Darfur

BERLIN, July 09, 2004 (dpa) — The German government called Friday for an independent investigation of human rights violations in the Darfur region of Sudan.

A foreign ministry spokesman said an independent commission was needed to examine events in the western region.

The comments come ahead of a trip Sunday to Sudan by Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Officials in Berlin say the visit is designed to put pressure on the government in Khartoum to honour a pledge to disarm the Janjaweed Arab militia.

The pro-government militia has driven an estimated one million people from their homes in Darfur.

The foreign ministry spokesman said there was an “ethnic dimension” to the conflict. He called on the Sudanese government to fulfil pledges to disarm the militia, allow aid workers into the region, restore calm and ensure security.

The German government has meanwhile sent technical experts to Sudan to investigate how help can be provided in the region, including securing supply routes and examining water quality.

United Nations officials have called Darfur the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The United States has circulated a draft resolution to members of the U.N. Security Council for an arms embargo and sanctions on the militia.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sudan was running out of time to intervene to halt the humanitarian crisis in the region.