The British minister for International Development, Clare Short, has repeated her view that aid agencies have misled the public over the nature of the famine threat in Sudan.

Speaking in Parliament, she said the problem was one of access to the affected regions, not lack of money.

She said the answer lay in resolving the political crisis fuelling the civil war.

A special appeal for southern Sudan launched by British relief organizations has raised millions of dollars.

Last week, the Minister accused the aid agencies of projecting too many negative images in their appeals.

She said they should be concentrating on showing how affected communities need not feel helpless about changing their own situation.