Reply #13: Believe it or not, the US government is doing the right thing here [View All]

[muriel_volestrangler]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=514689

Sudan escaped condemnation by the United Nations over allegations of ethnic cleansing yesterday after European nations agreed to water down their criticism of the Khartoum government.

The US delegation was so outraged by the outcome, in the final hour of the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission, that it demanded an emergency session to hold Sudan to account. "We must stand up and be strong, condemning unconscionable acts," said Richard Williamson, the US ambassador, after the commission voted 50-1, with two abstentions, to express concern about the situation in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

But, after hours of negotiations between European and African states, the statement that was adopted stopped short of a formal condemnation of Sudan. "The commission has failed to meet its responsibilities today," Mr Williamson said, after casting the single vote against the motion.

According to a UN report leaked to The Independent, which was not considered by the commission because of delaying tactics by Khartoum, Sudanese forces have been conducting a scorched earth policy against civilians in what may amount to "crimes against humanity".