Saudi Arabia sends aid to strife-torn Darfur

RIYADH, June 27 (AFP) — Saudi Arabia on Sunday dispatched two planeloads of aid to Sudan’s war-torn western region of Darfur, the state news agency SPA reported.

The 20-ton cargo of food supplies, medicine and tents was flown out of the Saudi capital on Sunday morning at the behest of Saudi King Fahd, the agency said.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan last week made an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid for Darfur.

More than 10,000 people have died in Darfur, one million been displaced and a further 120,000 refugees have poured across the western border into Chad since the rebellion by black African groups against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum broke out in February 2003.