Put pressure on Chinese over Darfur – Clegg

Published on Sunday 13 April 2008 21:48

THE Liberal Democrat leade, Nick Clegg, yesterday called on the Government to offer more than rhetoric in its efforts to end the conflict in Darfur.

At a rally to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war, Mr Clegg said the prime minister needed to put more pressure on China to use its influence over the Khartoum regime.

"I would not want to denigrate the rhetorical efforts of Gordon Brown, but I am afraid people want to see action rather than more rhetoric," he told demonstrators.

"He has been extremely reluctant for a long time to say anything controversial to the Chinese.

"But the fact is the Chinese government, as host of the Olympics, has a new responsibility for human rights."

Yesterday's demonstration, which saw around 3,000 protesters gather outside the Sudanese Embassy in London, was part of a global day of action for Darfur, organised by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Save Darfur Coalition.