Sudan accused of using chemical weapons in Darfur

Sudan's government hascarried out at least 30 likely chemical weapons attacks in theJebel Marra area of Darfur since January using what two expertsconcluded was a probable blister agent, Amnesty Internationalsaid on Thursday.

The rights group estimated that up to 250 people may havedied as a result of exposure to the chemical weapons agents.

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The most recent attack occurred on Sept. 9 and Amnesty saidits investigation was based on satellite imagery, more than 200interviews and expert analysis of images showing injuries.

"The use of chemical weapons is a war crime. The evidence wehave gathered is credible and portrays a regime that is intenton directing attacks against the civilian population in Darfurwithout any fear of international retribution," said TiranaHassan, Amnesty International's director of Crisis Research.

Sudanese UNAmbassador Omer Dahab Fadl Mohamed said in astatement that the Amnesty report was "utterly unfounded" andthat Sudan does not possess any type of chemical weapons.

"The allegations of use of chemical weapons by SudaneseArmed Forces is baseless and fabricated. The ultimate objectiveof such wild accusation, is to steer confusion in the on-goingprocesses aimed at deepening peace and stability and enhancingeconomic development and social cohesion in Sudan," he said.

Strong evidence

Amnesty said it had presented its findings to twoindependent chemical weapons experts.

"Both concluded that the evidence strongly suggestedexposure to vesicants, or blister agents, such as the chemicalwarfare agents sulfur mustard, lewisite or nitrogen mustard,"Amnesty said in a statement.

Sudan joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1999 underwhich members agree to never use toxic arms.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons inthe Hague, which oversees adherence to the treaty, said in areaction it would examine the Amnesty report "and all otheravailable relevant information."

The organization's executive council is due to meet Oct.11-14.

A joint African Union-United Nations force, known as UNAMID,has been stationed in Darfur since 2007. Security remainsfragile in Darfur, where mainly non-Arab tribes have beenfighting the Arab-led government in Khartoum, and the governmentis struggling to control rural areas.

Some 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur since theconflict began in 2003, the UNsays, while 4.4 million peopleneed aid and over 2.5 million have been displaced.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants forSudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 oncharges of war crimes and genocide in his drive to crush theDarfur revolt.