Cross Party Support For Local MPs Motion On The Sudan

9.35.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 24th Oct 2006

Over 100 MPs have signed a motion tabled by Susan Kramer, ( Richmond Park), drawing attention to the continuing crisis in the Sudan.

Susan Kramer said:

'I am pleased that MPs from all parties have signed up. It shows the level of concern about the situation in the Sudan and the need to prevent further bloodshed. Too many lives have been lost already and we must do everything we can to call a halt to the violence and suffering.'

Text of Early Day Motion:

Kramer, Susan

That this House welcomes the Global Action for Darfur Day initiative undertaken by Crisis Action and supporting organisations; welcomes UN Security Council Resolution 1706, which provides for a UN mandated force in Darfur; is seriously concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the country, which has lead to the recent and abhorrent killings of civilians and of humanitarian aid workers; agrees with the African Union's own assessment that the AMIS force is under-resourced to fulfil its role and condemns the Sudanese government for its failure to protect its citizens from an escalation of violence; therefore calls on the international community, especially the UK Government, to place pressure on China and Russia at the UN Security Council to ensure that the Sudanese government adheres to the Darfur Peace Agreement and allows UN forces to take over from AMIS in the region once its mandate has expired; calls on the government of Sudan to provide unimpeded humanitarian access to the victims of the conflict; and further calls on the European Union to consider targeted sanctions in the event of continuous breaches of the peace agreement by Khartoum, thereby demonstrating a true and lasting commitment to ending a conflict that has cost over 180,000 lives and affected four million others.