Chinese Weapons Found in Darfur

ANCHOR:
Now we have several related developments on the Darfur conflict in Sudan. Over the weekend U.N. representatives remembered seven peacekeepers who were murdered in Darfur last week. It came days after the Washington Post reported that the prosecutor for the U.N.'s International Criminal Court will seek an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President. Meanwhile, the BBC reported over the weekend that Chinese weapons were being used against civilians in Darfur. The weapons include Chinese military trucks, anti-aircraft guns, and fighter jets, and they violate a U.N. arms embargo against the Sudanese government. This is a complicated story, but we're going to go through the latest developments step-by-step. Here's more:

STORY:
They're called 'anti-aircraft guns,' but in Darfur they're being used on unarmed civilians. The gun's massive shells explode on impact, mixing metal with fire.

The BBC quoted one man who witnessed a close-range attack: "An intense wave of heat instantly sent all the huts around up in flames... There was a lot of screaming."

The BBC also found evidence that the Chinese regime is training fighter pilots to launch bombing runs on civilians in Darfur, violating a UN arms embargo on Sudan.

Chinese authorities declined to comment on the evidence.

Meanwhile, a U.N. prosecutor is to seek the arrest of Sudan's president today for crimes against humanity and genocide. Shortly after the news broke on Friday, Sudanese and Chinese officials reacted negatively.

[Abdalbaseit Sabdrat, Sudanese Minister of Justice]:
"Let him (the court's prosecutor) make his accusation by tomorrow. It will be a long time from the time he makes the accusation to the time the court passes a ruling, and from the time of the court ruling to the time the Security Council makes a decision. When that happens, we will take the necessary stands and measures."

But even if the case makes it to the Security Council, it would still have to pass a Chinese veto, which is unlikely because China is a close ally of Sudan.

Experts estimate about 200,000 people have died and 2 and a half million have been driven from their homes in 5 years of fighting between rebels and government-backed militias.

It's impossible to say how many of those killed were innocent victims, but over the weekend the U.N. honored seven of them. The seven victims were peacekeepers -- ambushed during a patrol by an unidentified militia last Tuesday.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• Chinese
• Weapons
• Darfur
• sudan
• anti-aircraft
• guns

[Airforcebz]

I think world can NOT blame china because if you buy something its your rights to use it as you like too another example is that if you buy nife in store they dont ask you what are you going to do with it and thats why i think they should stop to blame china.

[kimmkk]

US Weapons Found all over the world

[m00se321]

@luckyD1993 LOL,then Communist China wont Cry!!!when the South Sudan,,becomes its Own State ,and KickS, Out the Chinese,and STOPS the Oil Sales to communist China!!And Sales its OIL too the USA,and only Deals with Obama!!

[luckyD1993]

lol americans are armed with chinese weapons too

[vtxtd2]

helloooo, and the west cares about sudan? If they did care about africa would it because of their love of A.I.D.S. or black hookers or oil? helloooooooooooooo

[Rheaume100]

Sudanese Rebels Want Chinese out,,

[usapla]

The West always blame China supply weapons to Sudan. Nevertheless the major reason is Sudanese Gov. doesn't TRUST the West and never sell the crude oil to them but only allow China to enter their oil market.

[Imat00l]

What's the big deal?. Taliban and Iraqi insurgents are also armed with Chinese made AK47s.

[iwsab]

guess who sells the most weapons? The west!!! not china.

[triumphelf]

China Could careles About the Sudanese,there only there for there OIL intrest..China is alreay planning on building a Base near the Iranian Coast..China willl have all fo Africa's OIL!!