Sudanese government denies that human rights are abused in Darfur

A report by Human Rights Watch over the western region of Darfur was rejected by the Sudanese officials who accused the organisation of misinforming the public and provoking the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against the country.

"The suspicion in the aims of the organisation is particularly raised by the timing it has chosen for releasing its report," Ismail said, adding that HRW intended to pressure the UN Security Council into adopting a resolution imposing sanctions against Sudan.

Human Rights Watch charged in a report issued on Monday that Sudanese government officials are directly involved in recruiting, arming and other support to the Janjaweed militia that terrorize the black population of Darfur, reports Channel News Asia.

The Darfur conflict, which erupted in 2003, involves the Janjaweed (armed men on horsebacks), allegedly backed by the government. Besides raping, the militias have also been accused of killing, abductions, torching villages, crops and cattle belonging to members of black Muslims in Darfur: the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

This forced the three ethnic groups to form armed groups - the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) - to counter the Janjaweed.

The attacks have led to deaths of 30,000 people, according to Amnesty International. UN estimates that about 1.2 million people have been displaced, one million of these internally displaced and about 170,000 have fled to neighbouring Chad. The displacement has caused a humanitarian crisis, described by the UN as the worst in the world, quotes Allafrica.com.