UK official says UN resolution on Sudan violence already making difference

LONDON, Sep 21, 2004 (AP) — A senior U.K. official just back from the Darfur region of Sudan said Tuesday a U.N. resolution threatening sanctions over the violence there was already having an impact on the country’s leaders.

“It has had the effect of forcing the government of Khartoum to face up to what has happened in Darfur,” said the official, who returned Sunday from a five-day trip and briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

“I met with officials up to the vice president and I’m in no doubt they understand it’s deeply in their interest to bring the tragedy in Darfur to an end,” the official said.

Western governments and international aid agencies say government-backed Arab militias have burned and looted African villages in Darfur and raped or killed many inhabitants.

According to U.N. estimates, more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes to escape the violence and more than 50,000 have died. Most of the deaths are linked to disease or malnutrition in crowded, filthy camps for the displaced.

The conflict began when the two Darfur rebel groups rose up in February 2003, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of neglect and discrimination.

The U.K. official said that Darfur was still much too dangerous for those who fled to return.

The official said it was clear the government was to blame for the violence by Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.

“The primary responsibility undoubtedly lies with the Khartoum regime,” the official said. “It massively overreacted to the rebels fighting in Darfur, and crimes against humanity have been committed by the militias it armed to fight its battles there.”

In an 11-0 vote Saturday with four abstentions, the U.N. Security Council said it would meet again to consider sanctions against Sudan ‘s petroleum sector or other punitive measures if the government doesn’t act quickly to stop the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The resolution also authorizes U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to appoint a commission to investigate reports of human rights violations in Darfur and determine “whether or not acts of genocide have occurred,” as the U.S. and others have charged.