Blair appeals to EU to stop slaughter in Darfur region

LONDON – British Prime Minister Tony Blair appealed yesterday to his EU counterparts to apply heavy pressure on the Sudanese government and rebels to stop the civil war in Sudan’s western Darfur region.

His appeal in a letter coincided with meetings and rallies in about 50 cities worldwide yesterday, proclaimed international solidarity with Darfur day by some 30 human rights organisations. In the letter to his counterparts in the other 24 member states as well as Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, Blair said the European Union should play a “central role in mobilising world opinion on this issue”.He warned that the Sudanese government should prepare to face isolation if it failed to respond to diplomatic pressure to end the “slaughter”.Blair on Saturday condemned the government in Khartoum for rejecting a UN peacekeeping force for the troubled region and accused it of breaking ceasefire arrangements.Blair also called on the European Union to back his demand for a UN peacekeeping force to be allowed to take over from the African Union Mission in Sudan.In his letter, which has also been sent to European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, Blair insisted that the international community could not turn its back on the “tragic situation.””We should urge the government of Sudan to rise to the challenge above, make the right decisions to protect the people of Darfur, and put Sudan back in its rightful place at the heart of the family of nations,” he wrote.”If it responds we should commit to provide substantial support for reconstruction and peace through debt relief and aid,” the letter said.”But this window should not remain open forever.And if it fails to move we should agree further measures to isolate and pressure it,” Blair wrote.”We should work to create the broadest possible coalition to speak with one united voice on this issue.”Senior members of the British Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths wer togather outside Blair’s offices at Downing Street later yesterday to call for an end to the suffering.The war in the arid western region of Sudan between rebels and the government which began in February 2003 has led to the deaths of more than 300 000 people and has displaced more than 2,5 million, according to the United Nations.Nampa-AFPIn the letter to his counterparts in the other 24 member states as well as Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, Blair said the European Union should play a “central role in mobilising world opinion on this issue”.He warned that the Sudanese government should prepare to face isolation if it failed to respond to diplomatic pressure to end the “slaughter”.Blair on Saturday condemned the government in Khartoum for rejecting a UN peacekeeping force for the troubled region and accused it of breaking ceasefire arrangements.Blair also called on the European Union to back his demand for a UN peacekeeping force to be allowed to take over from the African Union Mission in Sudan.In his letter, which has also been sent to European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, Blair insisted that the international community could not turn its back on the “tragic situation.””We should urge the government of Sudan to rise to the challenge above, make the right decisions to protect the people of Darfur, and put Sudan back in its rightful place at the heart of the family of nations,” he wrote.”If it responds we should commit to provide substantial support for reconstruction and peace through debt relief and aid,” the letter said.”But this window should not remain open forever.And if it fails to move we should agree further measures to isolate and pressure it,” Blair wrote.”We should work to create the broadest possible coalition to speak with one united voice on this issue.”Senior members of the British Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths wer togather outside Blair’s offices at Downing Street later yesterday to call for an end to the suffering.The war in the arid western region of Sudan between rebels and the government which began in February 2003 has led to the deaths of more than 300 000 people and has displaced more than 2,5 million, according to the United Nations.Nampa-AFP