Africa
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PRESIDENT Omar Hassan al-Bashir has rebuffed criticism of Musa Hilal, accused by Washington of co-ordinating Darfur's marauding militias, following Hilal's promotion to a key government post in Khartoum, Reuters reported.
The Sudanese leader on the first day of a visit to European Union (EU) candidate country Turkey, also accused Europe of backing the violence in Darfur.
The United States (U.S.), the EU and rights groups are unhappy with Bashir's visit, although Turkey insists it will press home the West's message that Sudan needs to work towards resolving the Darfur crisis.
American actress, Mia Farrow, was on Sunday forced to cancel a ceremony in Phnom Penh highlighting human rights abuses in Sudan after authorities barred her access to the city's genocide museum.
Farrow and her group, Dream for Darfur, planned to hold an Olympic torch ceremony at Tuol Sleng prison -- a brutal interrogation centre under the Khmer Rouge -- as part of a campaign to highlight China's links to Sudan.
But the Cambodian government, which has close ties to Beijing, banned the ceremony, calling it "insulting" to the two million victims of the Khmer Rouge.
Cambodian police, some armed with truncheons and tear gas, blocked all road access to the museum.
The star, joined by seven other activists, instead gave white lotus flowers to a policeman, and asked him to lay them in front of the museum.
Farrow's campaign aims to push China to pressure Sudan into ending the violence in Darfur, where the United Nations estimates at least 200,000 people have died in five years of war, famine and disease.
Her group has organised an Olympic-style torch relay through countries that have suffered genocide and Cambodia was the sixth stop after visits to the Sudanese border in Chad, as well as Rwanda, Armenia, Germany and Bosnia.
Defending Hilal's appointment, Bashir at a joint news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul said:"Mr. Hilal himself is a Sudanese citizen. He has a very influential personality in Darfur. He has contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.
"In Sudan, we do not think the claims against Hilal are true. We absolutely do not believe them. The people who really commit murders in Darfur are receiving help from Europe and others."
Bashir's government has been criticised after a five-year conflict in Sudan's west sparked what UN officials called the world's worst humantiarian crisis with an estimate 200,000 dead and 2.5 million driven from their homes.
Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing Sudan's central government of neglect. Khartoum mobilised mostly Arab tribes to quell the revolt.
Sudan's Minister of Federal Affairs Abdel Basit Sabderat confirmed at the weekend that Hilal had been picked as his new adviser. The presidency had previously denied the appointment.
Washington says Hilal is the co-ordinator of the Janjaweed militias accused of war crimes in Darfur. He denies atrocities and says he mobilised his tribesmen to defend their lands after a government call to "popular defence".
Turkey's Gul, who looked uncomfortable during the news conference, said he had urged Bashir during their talks to seek a peaceful end to the conflict in Darfur.
Bashir's visit to Ankara and to Istanbul, Turkey's business hub, is expected to boost economic ties, though human rights groups have criticised Turkey for hosting Sudan's leader.
Despite the conflict in western Darfur, foreign investment has rocketed in Sudan's capital Khartoum. Turkish companies have won large government construction contracts to build bridges and Sudan's first mall.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PRESIDENT Omar Hassan al-Bashir has rebuffed criticism of Musa Hilal, accused by Washington of co-ordinating Darfur's marauding militias, following Hilal's promotion to a key government post in Khartoum, Reuters reported.
The Sudanese leader on the first day of a visit to European Union (EU) candidate country Turkey, also accused Europe of backing the violence in Darfur.
The United States (U.S.), the EU and rights groups are unhappy with Bashir's visit, although Turkey insists it will press home the West's message that Sudan needs to work towards resolving the Darfur crisis.
American actress, Mia Farrow, was on Sunday forced to cancel a ceremony in Phnom Penh highlighting human rights abuses in Sudan after authorities barred her access to the city's genocide museum.
Farrow and her group, Dream for Darfur, planned to hold an Olympic torch ceremony at Tuol Sleng prison -- a brutal interrogation centre under the Khmer Rouge -- as part of a campaign to highlight China's links to Sudan.
But the Cambodian government, which has close ties to Beijing, banned the ceremony, calling it "insulting" to the two million victims of the Khmer Rouge.
Cambodian police, some armed with truncheons and tear gas, blocked all road access to the museum.
The star, joined by seven other activists, instead gave white lotus flowers to a policeman, and asked him to lay them in front of the museum.
Farrow's campaign aims to push China to pressure Sudan into ending the violence in Darfur, where the United Nations estimates at least 200,000 people have died in five years of war, famine and disease.
Her group has organised an Olympic-style torch relay through countries that have suffered genocide and Cambodia was the sixth stop after visits to the Sudanese border in Chad, as well as Rwanda, Armenia, Germany and Bosnia.
Defending Hilal's appointment, Bashir at a joint news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul said:"Mr. Hilal himself is a Sudanese citizen. He has a very influential personality in Darfur. He has contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.
"In Sudan, we do not think the claims against Hilal are true. We absolutely do not believe them. The people who really commit murders in Darfur are receiving help from Europe and others."
Bashir's government has been criticised after a five-year conflict in Sudan's west sparked what UN officials called the world's worst humantiarian crisis with an estimate 200,000 dead and 2.5 million driven from their homes.
Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing Sudan's central government of neglect. Khartoum mobilised mostly Arab tribes to quell the revolt.
Sudan's Minister of Federal Affairs Abdel Basit Sabderat confirmed at the weekend that Hilal had been picked as his new adviser. The presidency had previously denied the appointment.
Washington says Hilal is the co-ordinator of the Janjaweed militias accused of war crimes in Darfur. He denies atrocities and says he mobilised his tribesmen to defend their lands after a government call to "popular defence".
Turkey's Gul, who looked uncomfortable during the news conference, said he had urged Bashir during their talks to seek a peaceful end to the conflict in Darfur.
Bashir's visit to Ankara and to Istanbul, Turkey's business hub, is expected to boost economic ties, though human rights groups have criticised Turkey for hosting Sudan's leader.
Despite the conflict in western Darfur, foreign investment has rocketed in Sudan's capital Khartoum. Turkish companies have won large government construction contracts to build bridges and Sudan's first mall.
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