Darfur crisis divides press

Sudanese editorial writers reflect a mixture of defiance and deep concern over the Khartoum government's recent handling of the situation in Darfur.

Some take the government to task for failing to resolve the issue without international pressure, including a new draft resolution sent to the United Nations by the US to be considered on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the Arab world the papers also appear to be in two minds over the underlying causes of the crisis and what to do next.

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Whatever America's aim might be in its present stand on Darfur, it has blundered. All the indications are that the US plan will face strong opposition in the UN Security Council.

Commentary by Muhammad Bashir Abu Qaribah in Sudan's al-Anbaa

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Whatever the UN Security Council's verdict is today, the issue, from beginning to end, is a Sudanese one, and is the result of our failure to solve the crisis... We have to work hard and find a comprehensive solution to the Sudanese problem, and to Darfur in particular, as soon as possible.

Commentary by Kamal al-Sadiq in Sudan's al-Ayyam

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A growing concern of the government is the disarmament of the militia. It does not want to tell the international community that it is unable to disarm them at present. This runs against its obligations and jeopardises its credibility.

Commentary by Adil al-Baz in Sudan's al-Sahafa

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America is now antagonising us... with the fierce attack over the situation in Darfur... America wants us to yield to its hegemony.

Commentary by Idris Hasan in Sudan's al-Ra'i Amm

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Just as it violated international law and struck the UN off its list in the war on Iraq, the US is now striking the African Union off its list over the Darfur issue.

Editorial in Sudan's al-Anbaa

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Sudanese officials maintain the world now seems intent on hatching a conspiracy against the Sudanese government... The government is itself fuelling the conspiracy... A conspiracy is being hatched neither by Israel nor Washington but behind the walls of the presidential palace and inside the national security agencies... We urge the president to form a transitional government, led by a national figure, to resolve the crisis and implement peace agreements.

Commentary by Abd-al-Wahhab al-Afandi - London al-Quds al-Arabi

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Washington's goals in Sudan cannot be hidden, whether they are economic goals aimed at controlling the region's oil or strategic goals aimed at dividing Sudan into smaller states based on ethnicity.

Editorial in Egypt's al-Akhbar

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There is a possibility of a no-fly-zone over Darfur as was the case in northern and southern Iraq during Saddam Hussein's time. This may make the Sudanese government lose control of the region.

Editorial in Egypt's al-Ahram

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The US and its Secretary of State Powell have accused Sudan of racist crimes in Darfur. Such statements are not made out of love for Sudan's African tribes but to win over American voters of African origin.

Commentary by Muhammad al-Samak in Lebanon's al-Mustaqbal

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There is no link between the next US elections and the Darfur crisis. What the US administration wants under Bush's leadership is respect for human rights. The Sudanese government must therefore understand this when handling the Darfur crisis... The major cause of the current crisis in Sudan is lack of security and the perpetration of ethnic cleansing.

Commentary by Ali Muhammad al-Fayruz in Kuwait's al-Ra'y al-Am

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.