British celebs urge action on Darfur
Leading British film and music stars urged the British government Saturday to help end fighting in the violence-wracked Sudanese region of Darfur.
Musicians Elton John and Annie Lennox, musician-campaigner Bob Geldof, and actress Emma Thompson were among those who signed a letter accusing the international community of failing to act.
“We call on our government to move Darfur to the top of its priority list until a U.N. force is deployed and the people of Darfur are protected,” they wrote.
The conflict in Darfur began in early 2003 when ethnic African tribes revolted against the Khartoum government. The Arab-dominated Sudanese government has been accused of unleashing Arab militiamen known as Janjaweed, who have been blamed for widespread atrocities, including rapes and killings.
U.N. officials have estimated the death toll at between 180,000 and 200,000. More than 2 million people have been driven from their homes.
The mandate of an underfunded 7,000-strong African Union force in Darfur expires at the end of the month, and the Sudanese government has resisted the deployment of a multinational force authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
