"I am addressing a personal message to (US) president (George W) Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, asking them to urgently send troops to protect the millions of displaced from the deadly danger threatening them," Sudan Liberation Army leader Abdel Wahed Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur told AFP from Darfur.
"Bush and Blair should not postpone their intervention and wait for the end of the delay granted to Sudan by the UN Security Council, because the situation simply doesn't allow it," Nur said.
On July 30, the Sudanese authorities were given 30 days by the Security Council to disarm marauding pro-government militias in Darfur and ensure the safety of the estimated 1,2-million people who have been displaced.
The SLA chief said "Sudan airforce jets have been flying over several towns in the western Darfur region, wreaking terror and triggering the exodus of thousands."
He named the worst-affected areas as Shaariyah in South Darfur, Burk near the Chadian border, Biri near the North Darfur capital of Fasher, and Kabkabiya near the West Darfur town of Zelingei.
Nur also charged that the pro-government Arab nomadic tribes known as the Janjaweed militias – who have been repressing the black African rebels since February 2003 – perpetrated "the massacre of 80 displaced on August 7, south of the town of Zelingei.
His allegations come amid a flurry of reports by aid agencies and rights groups condemning what they call the Sudanese government's failure to rein in the Janjaweed and provide safety to civilians.
"The displaced people live in the danger of death from starvation, disease and the abundant rain which is hitting the region while they have no shelter and are hunted by the government airforce," Nur said.
According to UN figures, the conflict between government-backed forces and the rebels from the SLA and the Justice and Equality Movement has left between 30 000 and 50 000 dead.
The US congress has passed resolutions describing the crisis in Darfur as "genocide", while the European Union and rights groups have stopped short of using the term, a crucial nuance within the perspective of any military intervention.
A 300-strong contingent of African Union troops which is due to be airlifted to Darfur shortly is only tasked with protecting ceasefire monitors. Khartoum has fiercely opposed any plans for a larger peace-keeping force to be deployed.
The UN has threatened unspecified measures should Khartoum's fail to comply with the Security Council demands. – Sapa-AFP.
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