Dafur Refugee and Top UN Envoy for Prevention of Genocide Discuss Crisis in Sudan

We turn now to what the UN calls "one of the world's worst humanitarian crises" - Sudan's Western region of Darfur. The African Union has set a deadline for the end of this month for warring parties in the Darfur region to agree on a new ceasefire. Since 2003, two rebel groups -- the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese Liberation Movement -- have waged an armed struggle against the Sudanese government.

The rebels are fighting to end what has been described as genocide against the mainly black inhabitants of Darfur. The Sudanese government has responded by backing militias known as the Janjaweed. At least 180,000 people have died in the region and over 2 million people have been left homeless. Earlier this month, the Sudanese government blocked the top humanitarian official at the United Nations from visiting the Darfur region. The official, Jan Egeland, accused Sudan of trying to cover up for ethnic cleansing. He said the situation is "changing dramatically for the worse."

Hopes for an African Union-brokered ceasefire remain grim. The current talks mark the seventh round of negotiations between Karthoum and the rebel groups in the last two years. Previous ceasefires have repeatedly been broken. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council remains divided on how to address the issue. At the UN Monday, Russia and China blocked a measure backed by the U.S. and Britain to sanction four individuals from both sides of the conflict over alleged abuses. Russian and Chinese officials said they wanted to await the results of the ongoing peace talks. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the US would force a vote on the issue anyway.

* John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Here in this country, a growing movement is mobilizing to put pressure on the Sudanese government and the companies they do business with. Last week, the California State Teachers" Retirement System Board voted to divest from any companies with ties to Sudan. The board oversees the country's second largest pension fund. The vote came just weeks after the University of California regents approved a similar measure. Both decisions followed concerted campaigns from California student activists.

To talk about the latest developments in Darfur and the response in this country and around the world we speak with two guests:

* Juan Mendez, United Nation's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. He has visited the Darfur region twice since his appointment in July 2004. He is also President of the International Center for Transitional Justice.
* Fatima Haroun, a Darfurian refugee who has lectured widely on the crisis. She is member of the Darfur Rehabilitation Project and the Sudan Peace Advocates Network.

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