Letter: Blame for Darfur

Sir: I read your front page on Darfur (26 January) with growing amazement. I had thought the villains of the piece were perhaps the Janjaweed militia or the Sudanese government, the ones raping and bombing and killing. Or perhaps Russia and China, who promise to veto any Security Council resolution threatening sanctions.

But instead, I read at length that the real villains are, as ever, the Americans. Admittedly, they have recognised genocide and pushed for action through the UN, but have a "right-wing agenda" which Britain must "stand up to".

You may have found the key issue. Perhaps the killing would stop tomorrow if the rulers in Khartoum thought they were facing justice in the International Criminal Court instead of a special tribunal. Then again, perhaps not.

CALUM LOUDON

Edinburgh