Powell wants Sudan to do more to ease Darfur crisis, hails Libyan efforts

WASHINGTON, July 16 (AFP) — US Secretary of State Colin Powell called on Sudan to do more to ease the humanitarian crisis in its western Darfur region, and hailed Libya for its efforts to speed aid to the region.

“The biggest problem that we have right now…is to get the government of Sudan to do everything possible within their capability or with other capabilities being brought in by the African Union, to break the back of” the pro-Khartoum Arab militias “terrorizing these villagers,” Powell told PBS broadcasting.

That, he said, “is an obligation of the government and we will not turn loose the pressure. We will continue pressure on the government ’til that happens.”

Powell acknowledged, “We have seen some limited movement with respect to the humanitarian aid. More aid is getting in and today it was announced that the Libyans have agreed to open a new route into Darfur from the north coming through Libya. That’s helpful.”

The United Nations says the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is currently the world’s worst, the conflict between the local rebellion and pro-government militias having left some 10,000 dead and a million displaced.