Sudan attacks US, Britain over Darfur

CAIRO, Egypt, July 13, 2004 (UPI) — Egyptian Ambassador to Sudan Ahmed Abdel Halim has accused the United States and Britain of exploiting the humanitarian crisis in Darfur to discredit Sudan.

“The issue of Darfur constitutes the third biggest challenge for Arabs after the Palestinian cause and Iraq in view of the conspiracy being made there against Sudan,” Abdel Halim told reporters Tuesday.

He charged Washington and London exaggerated the crisis in the province of Darfur in western Sudan to make way for a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning and discrediting Khartoum.

“Arabs should beware the conspiracies being devised against Sudan … The issue of Darfur was taken out of context and is being used as an excuse to target the Sudanese government,” he said.

He said the crisis in Darfur dates back to 1959 and is mainly the result of disputes among local tribes.

Darfur has become the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. A rebellion by inhabitants of African origin led to a counter-insurgency by government troops and pro-government Arab militia.