Darfur activists urge leaders to skip ceremony

Darfur activists urge leaders to skip ceremony
WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush and other leaders should shun the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony unless China does more to stop bloodshed in Sudan's Darfur region, activists said on Thursday.
The umbrella group of Darfur organizations said it was not advocating that countries, athletes or corporate sponsors boycott the Aug. 8-24 Games. But it said host China's close ties to Sudan undercut the spirit of the opening ceremony.
"Beijing should not be allowed to bask in the warm glow of peace and brotherhood associated with the opening games if China is still underwriting atrocities in Darfur and still has not done what it should to bring peace and security to Sudan," said the group in a statement from Washington.
"We call on world leaders not to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics," it said. Read more >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>