Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- Yesterday 29 April in thirty capitals all over the world thousands took to the streets calling for an immediate end to violence in the western Sudan region of Darfur since 2003 at the centre of a dramatic conflict, qualified on many sides as genocide.
The largest demonstration was seen in London where at least 3,500 people paraded through Downing Street past the residence of Prime Minister. As an eloquent sign of the necessity to stop the massacre in that part of Sudan the protesters carried a two metre high hourglass containing a blood red liquid to Number 10 and delivered a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him not to desist: “Time is running out for the people of Darfur. We ask you to maintain pressure on the government of Sudan”.
In Washington demonstrators gathered in front of the White House calling for the immediate deployment of an interposition force in Darfur.
Also yesterday an international conference on Darfur organised in Libya came to an end. The participants called for an “urgent and lasting” solution with the presence of a hybrid peace force in the territory, formed of United Nations and African Union troops.
Present at the conference representatives of the five permanent nation members of the UN Security Council, the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations. While Sudanese government sent a delegation the rebel movements fighting the Khartoum central government in Darfur did not. However it would seem that the rebels will take part in a successive conference to be organised again in Tripoli.
The Conference delegates expressing “immense concern for the continuing violence and insecurity in Darfur”, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The final statement makes explicit reference to the conference held in Addis Ababa last November, which led Sudan to 'accept' on principle a hybrid peace operation in Darfur. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/4/2007 righe 33 parole 383)
