Rice urges world act now to stop Darfur atrocities

The United States has said it is premature to offer its own forces for Darfur. Most of UN peacekeepers are expected to come from Africa and some Asian countries, with North America and Europe helping with funding, intelligence and logistics.

"I understand that the Sudan government sometimes says that they don't favour this, but they have failed in their obligation to protect the people of Darfur and they clearly need international help," said Rice.

"The world needs to act," she said. "We really can't afford to wait."

Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said it was in the Sudanese government's interests to allow the international community to intervene in Darfur.

"You either get the approval of the government ... or you invade and that is a very big, serious challenge," said Zoellick, who later made clear he was not suggesting an invasion of Sudan but rather that their cooperation was preferable to an invasion.

Reuters/Scotsman 13 April 2006.

[Such statements don't make sense. Who is "the world"? Who is going to invade without an UN Resolution? Who are Rice and Zoellick addressing such statements to?]