UN Expert Condemns Arbitrary Bombings in Darfur

A UN human rights expert has accused the Sudanese government of indiscriminately bombing civilians and condoning the abuse of human rights in Darfur. In a new report, the UN’s special rapporteur on Sudan, Sima Samar, especially accused Khartoum of perpetrating indiscriminate and disproportionate bombings of civilians in east Darfur, arbitrary detentions and inaction on rape, serious assaults and beatings against women in Darfur. The UN estimates that nearly 300,000 people have been killed and over 2.2 million displaced since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003. In May, the International Criminal Court (ICC) attempted to charge Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for genocide but met strong opposition from the African Union and the Arab League. [PE]