U.N. must ensure no Rwanda repeat in Sudan – Australia

CANBERRA, Aug 4 (Reuters) – The United Nations must take a strong stand in Sudan to avoid a repeat of its failed handling of the Rwandan genocide a decade ago, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Wednesday.

Australia would consider requests for defence and support mandated by the United Nations Security Council and has written to Sudan’s foreign minister to express concern at the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, in western Sudan, Downer said.

The United Nations estimates at least 30,000 people have died and more than 1 million others have been displaced since rebels in Darfur launched an offensive against the government that was repelled by Arab “Janjaweed” militia.

“It is vital for the United Nations, late as it may be, to take a strong stand against this egregious situation,” Downer told parliament.

“We do not want to see a failure of the U.N. in dealing with a humanitarian crisis as we saw 10 years ago in Rwanda.”

Rwanda is still recovering from the social and economic devastation of the 1994 genocide, when some 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were butchered in 100 days by Hutu extremists.

The U.N. Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution on Friday that threatened Sudan with sanctions in 30 days if it failed to stop Janjaweed attacks and bring them to justice.

Sudan said it would be difficult to meet the tight schedule.

“Strong international pressure is needed to ensure Sudan lives up to its promises,” Downer said