Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Reported Arrests and Intimidation of Darfuris for Talking to the UN Security Council

Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

October 25, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The United States strongly condemns the reported harassment, intimidation and arrests of individuals in Darfur for speaking to UN Security Council members during the Council's trip to Sudan. Any such actions are unacceptable.

Since learning of the detentions and reported intimidation, we have been actively working through various channels – through direct communication with the Sudanese, through the U.S. Embassy, through the UN, and in conjunction with other Security Council Member States, to establish the facts and ensure the safety of all who interacted with the Security Council during our visit. The U.S. and the UK asked the UN to address this issue in today's UN Security Council briefing so that the full Council could hear directly from UN officials about this matter.

We have yet to receive any information that alleviates our deep concern over this issue.

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