KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 12 (UPI) -- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher Monday urged Sudan to end the humanitarian crisis in Darfur to open the way for German assistance.
Speaking after talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Fisher said Sudan should meet its commitments to the United Nations "as soon as possible."
"We want to see progress on the ground in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and putting an end to violations of human rights," Fisher said on the first visit by a high-ranking German official to Sudan in decades.
He also held the Sudanese government responsible for protecting its citizens by disarming the Janjaweed militia, accused of ethnic cleansing against non-Muslim Africans in Darfur.
Sudan has strongly criticized Germany for pushing for U.N. sanctions against Sudan over the Darfur crisis.
The western province of Darfur has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. A rebellion by the inhabitants of African origin led to a counter-insurgency by government troops and pro-government Arab militia.
