Arab League organizing urgent meeting to discuss Darfur conflict

CAIRO, August 02, 2004 (dpa) — The Arab League Monday called for an urgent meeting of its foreign ministers to discuss the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

League spokesman Hossam Zaki said its Secretary-General Amr Mussa was conducting “extensive contacts” with Arab foreign ministers to arrange such a meeting early next week.

“Several Arab foreign ministers have responded positively to the request, made by Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail,” Zaki said.

He added that the Arab League was greatly concerned over developments in the Darfur crisis.

Earlier, Sudanese army commander Mohammed Bashir Suleiman told the official Sudanese daily al-Anbaa that the U.N. Security Council resolution on Sudan was a “declaration of war.”

The resolution gives Sudan 30 days to disarm the Janjaweed militia held responsible for murder, looting and burning of villages in Darfur.