"If a man in Darfur is killed, he is just as dead as an Englishman who is murdered"

Thousands call for end to Darfur bloodshed
VICKY SHAW - The Scotsman

ABOUT 3,500 campaigners gathered around a huge "blood-filled" hourglass opposite Downing Street yesterday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Darfur conflict.

Politicians and celebrities also backed calls for civilian protection, in what organisers of the London protest said was their largest and most successful Global Day for Darfur.


A letter to Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, pleading for action was handed in to Gareth Thomas, the international development minister, as part of the day of action.

More than 200,000 people are estimated to have died in the bloodshed. Campaigners held aloft red egg-timers during a minute's silence and chanted, cheered and clapped during speeches.

The letter read: "Time is running out for the people of Darfur, and we urge you to keep the pressure on the government of Sudan until there is an effective peace-keeping force on the ground protecting civilians."

Celebrity pleas to governments to take action came from Hugh Grant, George Clooney, Sir Elton John and Mick Jagger, Sir Bob Geldof,

Mark Knopfler, the actresses Thandie Newton and Mia Farrow, the broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and Blur star Alex James.

Ismael Jarbo, a Darfur survivor, told the gathering: "Genocide is going on today, so we need to do something now." He called for the international community to act, possibly with military intervention.

Campaigners had placards bearing phrases such as "No more excuses" and "Protect the people of Darfur". Martin Stern, 68, a survivor of the Holocaust, took part in a march from the Cambridge area to London, to speak at yesterday's event. He walked the first and last legs of the journey, which began last Thursday, with Darfur survivors and students.

Mr Stern, of Leicester, told the gathering: "If a man in Darfur is killed, he is just as dead as an Englishman who is murdered; his family is just as bereaved."

The Darfur conflict has led to 16 unenforced United Nations resolutions, and provoked 60 statements of concern from the European Union but, according to campaigners, "zero action".

Kate Allen, the Amnesty International UK director, said: "It's vital that the UK government takes a much stronger lead in securing an effective peacekeeping force."