EU focuses on crisis in Sudan

BRUSSELS, Belgium – European Union foreign ministers are pressuring Sudan to end the conflict in the country’s Darfur region, with Germany on Sunday joining the U.S. drive to impose international sanctions if Sudan fails to quickly disarm Arab militias blamed for much of the violence.

Citing “grave concern” at reports of “massive human rights violations” that some have called genocide, EU ministers were scheduled to meet Monday in Brussels to push the government and rebel groups to resume peace talks as well as improve access for relief groups.

The violence began 15 months ago when two rebel groups from Darfur’s African tribes took up arms in a struggle over land and resources with Arab countrymen. Arab militias known as Janjaweed then began a brutal campaign to drive out the black Africans.

As many as 30,000 people, most of them black Africans, have been killed, and more than 1 million people have fled their homes. Some 2.2 million are in urgent need of food or medical attention.