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Thursday, Jun 16, 2011 7:06 PM UTC

US seeks China’s help in Sudan as alarm grows

The Obama administration is asking China to use influence with Sudan's president to press for an end to violence

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Topics: Africa, China,

US seeks China's help in Sudan as alarm growsIn this photo provided by the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), a truck piled high with looted items drives past the burning huts of businesses and homesteads in the center of Abyei town, Sudan Saturday, May 28, 2011. Tens of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing from the contested north-south border region of Abyei, and the top U.S. official in the region warned Friday of a humanitarian crisis over the north's invasion. (AP Photo/UNMIS, Stuart Price) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES(Credit: AP)

The Obama administration is asking China to use its influence with Sudan’s president to press for an end to rising violence that threatens a landmark peace deal and could complicate southern Sudan’s plans to declare independence next month.

The State Department said Thursday it wants China to urge Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to abide by the terms of the 2005 peace agreement that ended Sudan’s two-decade north-south civil war and led to a secession vote by the south.

Bashir is to visit China later this month amid a surge in fighting around disputed border areas that has raised fears of a renewed war.

President Barack Obama met on Thursday with his special envoy to Sudan, two days after recording an audio message to the Sudanese people, appealing for calm.

Matthew Lee

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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