Amnesty team in Sudan to probe human rights in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sept 14 (AFP) — A top-level team from rights group Amnesty International arrived in Sudan on Tuesday for talks with officials in Khartoum ahead of a trip to the war-torn region of Darfur.

The trip by a delegation headed by Amnesty secretary general Irene Khan comes after the United States said Sudan was guilty of genocide against non-Arab minorities in Darfur.

Since black African rebels began an uprising against the Arabic-speaking Sudanese government in February last year, Khartoum and a proxy militia force have been accused of atrocities and scorched-earth tactics against Darfur’s population, leading to a massive refugee and humanitarian crisis.

According to estimates by the United Nations, which describes the situation as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today, the conflict has killed up to 50,000 people and caused another 1.4 million people to flee their homes.

The Sudanese government has rejected the genocide accusation as grandstanding by the US administration ahead of the November presidential election.

But Washington is lobbying the Security Council to adopt a new resolution establishing a UN commission of inquiry for Darfur, and the European Union is also backing calls for possible sanctions against Khartoum.

Amnesty officials said the delegation will meet with several ministers, including President Omar al-Beshir’s representative for Darfur. However, they have yet to receive responses to their requests to meet Beshir or his Vice President Ali Osman Taha.

The Amnesty team is expected to leave for Darfur on Wednesday before returning to Khartoum on Saturday.