Some 4,000 campaigners gathered around a huge hourglass opposite Downing Street in London today – to remind Prime Minister Tony Blair and the leaders of the world that time is running out for Darfur, Sudan.
The hourglass was dramatically filled with red liquid to represent the blood spilled in the ethnic conflict which has claimed up to 250,000 lives and displaced over 2 million people.
Church, development and human rights groups, along with representatives of Britain’s African communities, were among those who took part – with people travelling from different parts of Britain.
The rally is part of an international day of action in which protests have taken place in 35 world capitals.
Last year’s Darfur peace process failed. Pro-government militias have continued their killing and harassment, despite the claims of the Sudanese authorities and the president, who is refusing to allow United Nations peacekeeping troops into the region
The demonstrations calling for an action and an end to the killing come against the backdrop of 16 unfulfilled UN resolutions and 60 statements demanding action rom the European Union.
In spite of the high media profile of today’s actions, there are signs of a continuing political stalemate. The Arab League said that it was “astonished and offended” by a US House of Representatives resolution calling on the league to recognise the conflict in the Darfur as genocide.
The UK and America have said they will propose fresh UN sanctions against the regime in an attempt to increase pressure for an end to the fighting in Sudan.
PM Tony Blair declared that, if it failed to act, “it is our intention to make sure that this UN Security Council resolution is tabled and voted upon”.