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| Blair demands action over Darfur | Blair demands action over Darfur |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has condemned the situation in Darfur, where tens of thousands of people have died in fighting, as "completely unacceptable". | Tony Blair has condemned the situation in Darfur, where tens of thousands of people have died in fighting, as "completely unacceptable". |
| The prime minister questioned the Sudanese government's rejection of a UN decision to send a 20,000-strong force into the region. | |
| And he said the world should not "just watch as this tragedy deepens". | And he said the world should not "just watch as this tragedy deepens". |
| An International Day for Darfur is set for Sunday, with events planned in many countries to highlight the conflict. | An International Day for Darfur is set for Sunday, with events planned in many countries to highlight the conflict. |
| There is no definitive figure regarding the number of people who have died, although a study by US researchers this week claimed the total was 200,000. | There is no definitive figure regarding the number of people who have died, although a study by US researchers this week claimed the total was 200,000. |
| Other surveys have varied enormously, suggesting anything from fewer than 70,000 to more than 300,000 deaths. | Other surveys have varied enormously, suggesting anything from fewer than 70,000 to more than 300,000 deaths. |
| More than 2m people are believed to have been displaced. | More than 2m people are believed to have been displaced. |
| Rejection | Rejection |
| "Last May, we hoped the signature of the Darfur Peace Agreement by the government of Sudan and one rebel group would set Darfur on the road to peace," Mr Blair said. | "Last May, we hoped the signature of the Darfur Peace Agreement by the government of Sudan and one rebel group would set Darfur on the road to peace," Mr Blair said. |
| "The non-signatory rebel groups must now accept it, and the government of Sudan must stop its military campaign." | "The non-signatory rebel groups must now accept it, and the government of Sudan must stop its military campaign." |
| He went on: "I do not understand the government of Sudan's rejection of the UN force, or its threat to withdraw its welcome from the AU [African Union]." | He went on: "I do not understand the government of Sudan's rejection of the UN force, or its threat to withdraw its welcome from the AU [African Union]." |
| Mr Blair described the coming weeks as being "crucial" for SudanThis did not match the commitment to peace the government had shown in May by signing the peace agreement, he added. | Mr Blair described the coming weeks as being "crucial" for SudanThis did not match the commitment to peace the government had shown in May by signing the peace agreement, he added. |
| "I am committed to stepping up international efforts to bring a change of mind and action from the government of Sudan. | "I am committed to stepping up international efforts to bring a change of mind and action from the government of Sudan. |
| "I have already talked to [Chinese] Premier Wen and President George Bush about Darfur in the last few days." | "I have already talked to [Chinese] Premier Wen and President George Bush about Darfur in the last few days." |
| Mr Blair described the coming weeks as "crucial" and said Sudan would stay "at the top" of his agenda. | Mr Blair described the coming weeks as "crucial" and said Sudan would stay "at the top" of his agenda. |
| "I will talk to other leaders to agree an initiative that sets out the help Sudan can expect if the government lives up to its obligations, and what will happen if they don't." | "I will talk to other leaders to agree an initiative that sets out the help Sudan can expect if the government lives up to its obligations, and what will happen if they don't." |
| On Thursday, Oscar-winner George Clooney told the UN Security Council members that genocide was taking place on their "watch". | On Thursday, Oscar-winner George Clooney told the UN Security Council members that genocide was taking place on their "watch". |
| He also warned that their response would be their legacy. | He also warned that their response would be their legacy. |
| "It is the first genocide of the 21st Century and if it continues unchecked, it will not be the last," he said. | "It is the first genocide of the 21st Century and if it continues unchecked, it will not be the last," he said. |