Sudan women deny rapes in Darfur

KHARTOUM – Some 200 Sudanese women demonstrated in Khartoum yesterday, denying reports of mass rape in the strife-torn western Darfur region and protesting at the threat of UN sanctions or a military intervention to end the conflict.

The rally, called by the women’s secretariat of the ruling National Congress (NC) party, together with the women’s media league and other professional women’s associations, marched from the foreign ministry to the offices of the United Nations, where protesters handed a petition to the UN representative. The demonstrators chanted such slogans as: “No to foreign intervention”, “Leave Darfur women alone” and “A Sudanese solution to Darfur problem.”The crisis in Darfur has been brought before the UN Security Council, where a US-backed draft resolution is calling for sanctions against Khartoum unless it takes swift action to stem a humanitarian disaster in its western region.Between 30 000 and 50 000 people have been killed in Darfur since February 2003 and 1,2 million have been left homeless, according to UN figures.The UN resolution calls for the government to crack down on Sudanese-backed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.Rights groups have detailed atrocities including systematic rape in Darfur, many of them attributed to the militias.Meanwhile, a top Russian diplomat said yesterday that Moscow continues to oppose sanctions on Sudan.The US proposal, aimed at forcing Sudan to disarm militants blamed for rampant violence, is similar to an unsuccessful earlier draft.Deputy foreign minister Yuri Fedotov said Sudan should be given a “short, but adequate amount of time” to bring the situation in the western region of Darfur under control.”We support analysing the Sudan question in the Security Council,” Fedotov said.But he said Khartoum should be allowed time to fulfil a July 3 agreement signed with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.That agreement included a promise to crack down on the pro-government militias, improve security and provide better access for relief efforts.”This agreement lays out a specific time period for the Sudanese government to fulfil its obligations and we hope that Khartoum will fulfil them,” Fedotov said, according to Interfax.The US Congress has labeled the situation in Darfur genocide, a crime punishable under a 1948 UN convention.- Nampa-AFP-APThe demonstrators chanted such slogans as: “No to foreign intervention”, “Leave Darfur women alone” and “A Sudanese solution to Darfur problem.”The crisis in Darfur has been brought before the UN Security Council, where a US-backed draft resolution is calling for sanctions against Khartoum unless it takes swift action to stem a humanitarian disaster in its western region.Between 30 000 and 50 000 people have been killed in Darfur since February 2003 and 1,2 million have been left homeless, according to UN figures.The UN resolution calls for the government to crack down on Sudanese-backed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.Rights groups have detailed atrocities including systematic rape in Darfur, many of them attributed to the militias.Meanwhile, a top Russian diplomat said yesterday that Moscow continues to oppose sanctions on Sudan.The US proposal, aimed at forcing Sudan to disarm militants blamed for rampant violence, is similar to an unsuccessful earlier draft.Deputy foreign minister Yuri Fedotov said Sudan should be given a “short, but adequate amount of time” to bring the situation in the western region of Darfur under control.”We support analysing the Sudan question in the Security Council,” Fedotov said.But he said Khartoum should be allowed time to fulfil a July 3 agreement signed with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.That agreement included a promise to crack down on the pro-government militias, improve security and provide better access for relief efforts.”This agreement lays out a specific time period for the Sudanese government to fulfil its obligations and we hope that Khartoum will fulfil them,” Fedotov said, according to Interfax.The US Congress has labeled the situation in Darfur genocide, a crime punishable under a 1948 UN convention.- Nampa-AFP-AP