blank

Voice of America ®

Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA | Contact VOA News

  • Monday, 23 November 2009
  • Latest News:

News RSS Feeds RSS Feed

Sudanese Militia Group Dismisses UN Sexual Abuse Accusations

Share This

A Sudanese militia group has dismissed a U.N. report saying government-allied groups were guilty of sexual violence against women in the South Darfur region.

The report issued Tuesday by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says armed men kidnapped about 50 women from villages in South Darfur last December after an attack by government forces and allied militia. The report says the women were held for a month and raped repeatedly.

The state-run Sudanese Media Center quotes a spokesman for the Popular Defense Forces militia group, PDF, as calling the U.N. accusations baseless.

The spokesman said the PDF is not in the areas mentioned in the U.N. report. He called the report a deliberate fabrication to create unrest and prolong the conflict in Darfur.

Sudanese media also report that the prosecuting attorney in South Darfur state has charged 19 people arrested late Tuesday at the Kalma refugee camp. The officials say those arrested were suspected of attacking a police station.

Welcome to the new VOANews.com


We'd like to hear what you think of the site - please e-mail us: NewDesign@VOANews.com

Video Features

From the Newsroom

From the Newsroom

Afghan Politics - Analysis by Gary Thomas

More »

GoingGreen

Going Green

Watch: The United States debates cutting its carbon dioxide emissions.

More »

Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Watch: Will the declining dollar remain the world's reserve currency?

More »

Now You Know

Now You Know

Watch: A look at the origin and history of the Internet.

More »

The Link

The Link

Have you discovered a Web link you'd like to share with the world?

More »

Most Popular Articles

Special Reports

VOA Blogs

Most E-mailed Articles