Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I am grateful to the Minister for his reply and do not intend to pursue the issue of whether the term genocide should be used.

The figures on those who have died suggest a concentrated attack on a particular people. Some 200,000 black, African Muslims have been killed in two years, approximately 1.45 million people have been displaced, with 500,000 in need of urgent assistance, and deaths from disease and malnutrition, secondary causes, have been estimated at 180,000 in 2005 with another 80,000 since added.

I am not interested in the argument of whether this is a conflict between settled and nomadic people. Those with the power to bomb villages have done so in a concentrated way. On the other hand, factions have emerged representing signatories and non-signatories of the peace agreement.

The current UK proposal for an international conference of Heads of State has not been accepted by the President of Sudan. However, there is a suggestion that a meeting at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs might be acceptable. Would the Government consider facilitating such a meeting as a preparatory phase for the meeting proposed by the UK?

Most recently, the Sudanese President seems to have accepted the strengthening and increase in the African Union presence. It will act for the United Nations with logistics provided by non-Africans.

The Darfur Consortium represents 40 African non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and it is concerned at the arrest in Saudi Arabia of Abulgasem Ahmed Abulgasem at a conference on Sudan. He is from Darfur and has been subjected to an extraordinary rendition to Sudan where he is now held without access and proper procedures relating to vindication.

See this speech in context