Washington calls for an African court, oil sanctions on Khartoum

The US has defended its use of the word "Genocide" to describe what is taking place in Darfur and called for the formation of a special African court to try those who are involved in what is described as crimes against humanity in the district.

The United States welcomes the work of a U.N. commission of inquiry, but it stands by its own conclusion reached September 2004 "that genocide has been occurring in Darfur," a US spokesman says. The U.N. commission, which found evidence of crimes against humanity, has concluded that the Sudan government did not pursue a policy of genocide in Darfur.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State Richard Boucher stressed US determination to reject bringing this file to the International Criminal Court in the Hague and proposed the formation of a special court affiliates to the UN and the African Union in Arousha in Tanzania where the headquarters of the war crimes court in Rwanda is situated.

Boucher considered that this will permit getting the African countries completely involved in this process and keeping the main role for the African Union in Darfur.