Egypt urges support instead of punishment for Sudan

CAIRO, Oct 1, 2004 (Xinhua) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Friday urged the international community to help Sudan over the Darfur crisis instead of punishing it, the official MENA news agency reported.

Speaking to reporters, Abul Gheit said the European Union and other countries should do more to help Darfur and increase their logistic support there.

The 19-month violence in Sudan’s western Darfur region has resulted in what the United Nations called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, as many local people were killed or displaced.

Abul Gheit said consistent pressure on Khartoum would prove futile and achieve nothing in Darfur, according to MENA.

In late July, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution threatening sanctions against Sudan if it fails to stop violence in Darfur.

The crisis erupted after February 2003 when two rebel movements attacked government military targets there, accusing the government of turning a blind eye toward the atrocities committed by Arab militiamen against the mostly black tribes.

The Sudanese government, however, denied the accusation and insisted the crisis in Darfur is a result of tribal conflicts over scare resources.