War in Iraq 'Preventing Efforts to Stop Sudan Genocide'

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0728-03.htm

Published on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 by the lndependent/UK

War in Iraq 'Preventing Efforts to Stop Sudan Genocide'
by Ben Russell

Britain and America's preoccupation with Iraq has blocked international efforts to end genocide in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan, according to a highly critical report published by a think-tank close to Tony Blair.

The study, to be published today, said that the war in Iraq had prevented effective planning for military intervention which could have bolstered diplomatic efforts to prevent the bloodshed, which has driven more than a million people from their homes.

It warned that discussion on Iraq had prevented the United Nations Security Council discussing the Darfur crisis in May and diverted attention from clear warning signs that started emerging more than a year ago.

The study, which was published by the Foreign Policy Center, a left-of-center think-tank which counts Mr Blair as its patron, said that there was a fatal lack of political resolve to take strong action against the Khartoum government, a key American ally in the war on international terrorism.


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