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| China under pressure over Darfur | China under pressure over Darfur |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China faces more pressure over Darfur, following director Steven Spielberg's decision to withdraw as a Beijing Olympics advisor over the issue. | China faces more pressure over Darfur, following director Steven Spielberg's decision to withdraw as a Beijing Olympics advisor over the issue. |
| A UK daily has published a letter from 80 Nobel laureates and artists urging Beijing to help end the conflict. | A UK daily has published a letter from 80 Nobel laureates and artists urging Beijing to help end the conflict. |
| China has remained quiet on the issue. Neither the foreign ministry nor Olympics organisers have formally responded to Mr Spielberg's move. | China has remained quiet on the issue. Neither the foreign ministry nor Olympics organisers have formally responded to Mr Spielberg's move. |
| But US-based diplomats said that it was not fair to link China with Darfur. | But US-based diplomats said that it was not fair to link China with Darfur. |
| "As the Darfur issue is neither an internal issue of China, nor is it caused by China, it is completely unreasonable, irresponsible and unfair for certain organisations and individuals to link the two as one," a statement from China's Washington embassy said. | "As the Darfur issue is neither an internal issue of China, nor is it caused by China, it is completely unreasonable, irresponsible and unfair for certain organisations and individuals to link the two as one," a statement from China's Washington embassy said. |
| OLYMPICS ROW Famous names involved in advising the Olympics include director Zhang Yimou and Kung Fu star Jackie ChanHollywood stars Mia Farrow and George Clooney have criticised China over DarfurArchitect Ai Weiwei, who designed the main Olympic stadium, says the Games are a "public relations sham" Athletes put focus on Darfur | |
| The statement, which did not refer directly to Mr Spielberg, urged against politicising the Olympics. | The statement, which did not refer directly to Mr Spielberg, urged against politicising the Olympics. |
| A regular Chinese foreign ministry press conference is scheduled for later on Thursday. | A regular Chinese foreign ministry press conference is scheduled for later on Thursday. |
| At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, where government-linked militia are battling rebel groups. | At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, where government-linked militia are battling rebel groups. |
| Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing. | |
| In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has blocked efforts to pressure Khartoum in the UN Security Council. | |
| 'Ongoing failure | 'Ongoing failure |
| Mr Spielberg's announcement late on Tuesday constitutes Beijing's first big setback in staging the Games, analysts say. | Mr Spielberg's announcement late on Tuesday constitutes Beijing's first big setback in staging the Games, analysts say. |
| The renowned director, who had been brought in as artistic adviser for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, said his conscience would not allow him to continue in the role. | The renowned director, who had been brought in as artistic adviser for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, said his conscience would not allow him to continue in the role. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The real question is why the Olympics were awarded to China in the first place Vladi, California Send us your comments | |
| "Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes, but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more," he said. | "Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes, but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more," he said. |
| Adding to the pressure, a British daily has published on its front page the full text of a letter signed by 80 Nobel laureates, politicians and artists to Chinese President Hu Jintao urging greater action on Darfur. | Adding to the pressure, a British daily has published on its front page the full text of a letter signed by 80 Nobel laureates, politicians and artists to Chinese President Hu Jintao urging greater action on Darfur. |
| The letter, released by campaigning group Crisis Action on 12 February, said that China had both the opportunity and the responsibility to help bring peace to the troubled region. | The letter, released by campaigning group Crisis Action on 12 February, said that China had both the opportunity and the responsibility to help bring peace to the troubled region. |
| "Ongoing failure to rise to this responsibility amounts, in our view, to support for a government that continues to carry out atrocities against its own people," the letter said. | "Ongoing failure to rise to this responsibility amounts, in our view, to support for a government that continues to carry out atrocities against its own people," the letter said. |
| While there has been little response from China as yet, one daily did comment on the matter. | While there has been little response from China as yet, one daily did comment on the matter. |
| "The vast majority of Chinese people have expressed bafflement and outrage at the Western pressure," state-run tabloid Global Times said. | "The vast majority of Chinese people have expressed bafflement and outrage at the Western pressure," state-run tabloid Global Times said. |
| "In their view, it's absolutely absurd to place the Darfur issue, so many thousands of miles away, on the head of China." | "In their view, it's absolutely absurd to place the Darfur issue, so many thousands of miles away, on the head of China." |