The African Union has announced it is preparing plans to send a peacekeeping force to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan. The union has strongly criticised the Sudanese Government for failing to stop the bloodshed, which has killed more than 30,000 people.
Union delegates meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Adaba, have decided to prepare plans for the mission.
However, no final decision has been made. The African Union is calling on the Sudanese Government stop Arab militias known as the Janjaweed from terrorising civilians.
More than 1 million people have been forced from their homes during the unrest. Aid organisations are struggling to deal with the situation in Darfur, which the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
By Sally Sara 29 July 04
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