Sudan Official Calls Darfur a 'Smoke Screen' for Plotters

A senior Sudanese official on Tuesday called the Darfur crisis a "smoke screen" to hoodwink the international community into aiding political opponents who seek to overthrow the government. He warned that disarming pro-government militias, if done hastily and carelessly, could cause a violent ethnic war. The government is faced with the prospect of United Nations Security Council sanctions and growing calls from abroad to rein in the notorious pro-government Arab militias operating in Darfur, a large region in western Sudan. Turning the tables, the senior official, Najib el-Kheir Abdelwahab, the minister of state for foreign affairs, demanded international assistance in distinguishing troublemakers from legitimate tribal leaders.[more ]

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