US urges protest of Darfur aid group expulsions
         
Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Writer – Wed Mar 11, 2:50 am ET

UNITED NATIONS – The United States is urging leading African, Arab and Muslim groups to protest Sudan's ordering aid organizations out of Darfur, an expulsion it says threatens the lives of more than a million Muslims.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said Tuesday the African Union, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference must tell the Sudanese government to reverse the expulsion of the largest humanitarian organizations in conflict-wracked Darfur.

The Sudanese government ordered the expulsion of 13 international aid organizations and three domestic groups after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last week for President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

"If this decision stands, we can expect over a million people to be in immediate risk of losing their lives and the responsibility for that decision lies squarely with the government of Sudan," Rice told reporters.

There has been criticism of the arrest warrant in Africa and the Middle East. The African Union chief, Jean Ping, has called it "counterproductive" for peace efforts in Darfur. And in a strong sign of support, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani said al-Bashir will be invited and welcomed at an Arab summit in late March.

"I think it's imperative that the African Union and its member states, the OIC, the Arab League come together and deliver a very clear message to the government that they will not tolerate and stand by while over a million African Muslims are at risk of urgent death," Rice said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090311/ap_on_re_af/un_un_sudan_humanitarian_1