Britain concerned over worsening Darfur situation

STRASBOURG, March 8 (AFP) — British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw voiced deep concern Tuesday about the worsening situation in Sudan’s Darfur region, which triggered calls this week for urgent UN Security Council action.

“We’re currently discussing a (Security) Council resolution with respect to Sudan and we’re looking at the situation very closely. But I’m very concerned indeed about the deterioration of the situation in parts of Sudan,” he said.

UN chief Kofi Annan on Monday pressed the Security Council in New York to take urgent action on Darfur, saying it should reach agreement on a major stumbling block this week.

The UN council has been divided over where trials would be held for those responsible for possible war crimes or crimes against humanity in Darfur during the past two years of conflict.

At least 70,000 people are believed to have died — the true figure could be much higher — after Sudan enlisted proxy militia to help put down a rebellion against the Arab-led government in Khartoum.

Straw was speaking after talks with European Parliament head Josep Borrell in Strasbourg. Britain is due to take over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU in July.