Blair Backs Darfur Aid Appeal

Tony Blair today called for an end to violence in the Darfur region of Sudan and neighboring Chad as he urged Britons to donate money to an appeal fund for victims.

In a video message posted on YouTube, Mr Blair said the situation was "very very serious indeed".

"I hope people can be as generous as possible and support the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Darfur and Chad," he said.

"Around 4.5m people are affected by this. It is a very very serious situation indeed. Many people have died but also many people are in the most dire of situations, so I hope and am sure British people will respond generously as they always do."

Mr Blair said the extra funds were needed on top of money already donated by the government. He signaled his determination to sustain diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese government to "stop bombing and the violence" causing misery to so many.

Diplomatic efforts by the government have so far failed. The foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, last month warned that Sudan had "days not weeks" to curb military operations in Darfur and accept an international peacekeeping force or face tougher sanctions.

The conflict is in its fifth year. Mr Blair has pushed for a no-fly zone over Darfur, enforced if necessary by air strikes on Sudanese airfields, but has met opposition in the UN security council.

Mr Blair reiterated the government's commitment to stepping up the pressure. "We will continue to work for a very tough UN security resolution if the [Sudanese government] does not listen," he said.