GOAL chief executive slams UN approach to Darfur

The chief executive of Irish aid agency GOAL has launched a scathing attack on the United Nations for failing to describe the situation in Darfur as genocide.

A UN commission stopped short of describing the situation as genocide, which would legally require the United Nations to intervene.

This has angered GOAL chief executive John O'Shea, who claimed today the UN's failure to use the word genocide was linked to its alleged fear of facing up to China, which has oil interests in Sudan. - IOL Feb 1.
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Further reading:

Feb 1 Gunmen shoot at African monitors in Darfur: Gunmen shot at unarmed observers investigating a bombing in Darfur blamed by the UN on Sudan's government, an AU envoy said on Tuesday. His statement had no word on the identity of the attackers.

Feb 1 Sudan accuses UN's Darfur report of being biased: France said it endorses the recommendation that violators of human rights in Darfur stand trial in the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. But Washington does not recognise that court and would like a new tribunal to prosecute crimes in Darfur.

Feb 1 UN wants Darfur war crimes trial: Human rights campaigners believe Britain's position on Darfur will be crucial. London formally backs the ICC and several British officials have described Darfur as an obvious case to be referred to it. But the Government has not said yet whether it feels the issue should be referred to the ICC. Officials have been working behind the scenes to avert a new transatlantic dispute ahead of a fence-mending visit to Europe by President George W Bush this month.

Human Rights Watch, a campaign group, urged Europe to take a stand against America. "The delay involved in setting up a new tribunal would only lead to the loss of more innocent lives in Darfur," said Richard Dicker, director of the group's international justice programme.

Feb 1 Sudan atrocities strain US relations: Clash of views. US allies and others see Darfur as a clear case for the ICC. These allies include Britain, though for the moment the British government is treading carefully. "We have said that we must ensure that those responsible are brought to justice," said a Foreign Office spokesman, "We support the ICC, but whether this is taken to the ICC is for the Security Council." Opposition to the ICC by the Bush administration has been strong and remains so. The US has proposed instead that a special war crimes tribunal for Darfur be set up. This would sit in Tanzania and would be run by the UN and the African Union.