Shocking: UN Fails To Agree on Sudan Action

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Mr Bashir on 4 March, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. About 300,000 people have died so far, and clearly the Sudanese government is guilty of ethnic cleansing at the least and possibly genocide. Genocide by the way is the deliberate extermination of a group. It is a unclear if Sudan's actions are designed to merely secure territory or an attempt to eradicate a group from existence, that is probably was the International court didn't hand down a warrant for genocide. So far UN Ambassador Susan Rice is "gravely concerned" which in diplo-speak means we care but we are not about to go to war over the issue.

Council split

The latest criticism of Sudan came from US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, who called the move callous and reckless.

She said the move threatened the lives of innocents, and that the US was "gravely concerned" at the situation.

"The humanitarian situation in the country is already dire and this callous step threatens the lives of innocents already suffering from years of war and upheaval."

The key powers at the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, the US and Britain - met to discuss a statement which called on Sudan to reverse the expulsions.

But diplomats say China, Sudan's key ally and trading partner, objected.

A delegation from the African Union and the Arab League is due in New York soon to ask the Security Council to suspend the war crimes case against Sudan's president.

The council is divided: China, Russia and African countries are in favour, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, at the United Nations.

God bless the Chinese, never a dictator pestered nor an oil deal missed.

What does Samantha Power think about this?