UN Reports New Bombings in Darfur
By VOA News
24 February 2008
The United Nations is reporting new airstrikes in West Darfur, as China's special envoy on the Darfur issue begins a visit to Sudan.
The joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur said Sunday that it has received reports of aerial bombings in the Jabel Moun area. It said it is "gravely concerned' for the safety of thousands of civilians in the area.
Earlier, Chinese envoy Lui Guijin arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum for a five-day visit expected to including meetings with Sudanese officials and a trip to Darfur on Tuesday.
Activists have accused China of not doing enough to end the crisis in Darfur, where the Sudanese government has been battling rebels since 2003.
China is a major arms supplier for Sudan, and buys nearly two-thirds of Sudanese oil exports.
Earlier this month, U.S. film director Steven Spielberg stepped down as artistic consultant to the Beijing Olympics Games because of China's policies in Sudan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it regretted Spielberg's decision, saying China has made "unremitting efforts" to resolve the Darfur crisis.
Today, Chinese envoy Guijin called on Darfur rebel groups to return to peace negotiations with the Sudanese government. He said only if the groups negotiate can Darfur achieve some extent of stability.
The U.N. estimates that five years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people and displaced more than two million others.
The Sudanese government began a new offensive in West Darfur earlier this month.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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