AND THE ARAB STREET IS SIMMERING TOO

Arab League pledges support for Sudan
(Associated Press, Globe and Mail, August 8th, 2004)

The Arab League chief pledged support for Sudan's government before an emergency meeting on the violence that has killed thousands in that country's Darfur region, and Nigeria's president offered to host peace talks to resolve what has been called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The invitation from President Olusegun Obasanjo was to the Sudanese government and rebel negotiators to hold talks in Nigeria starting Aug. 23, a spokesman for the African Union said.

It was not immediately known whether the invite was accepted or what level of talks was on offer.[...]

The U.S. Congress and some humanitarian groups have accused Sudan of genocide, and a UN resolution has threatened economic and diplomatic action against Sudan if it doesn't act within 30 days to rein in the militias, known as the Janjaweed.

Sudan denies backing the Janjaweed and is hoping Arab nations at Sunday's gathering will back it against international pressure.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa met separately Sunday morning with the foreign ministers of Sudan and Egypt, which wants Khartoum to be given more time to resolve the crisis on its own. Sudan is an Arab League member.

Anyone want to offer predictions of the left's responses to this development?