Activists Dismayed at U.S. Reaction to Sudan Polls

Source: IPS

WASHINGTON, Apr 20, 2010 (IPS) - Activist groups called here Tuesday for the administration of President Barack Obama to hold the Sudanese government accountable for what the White House itself called "serious irregularities" in carrying out the past week's elections.

"President Obama must lead world leaders to not recognise (President Omar al-) Bashir as a legitimately elected leader and to press for meaningful steps towards political freedom in Sudan in the run-up to next year's referendum to determine independence for South Sudan," said Mark Lotwis, acting president of the Save Darfur Coalition, in one of a series of statements issued by various groups expressing disappointment with Washington's reaction to the vote.

That reaction came in the form of a statement issued by the White House early in the day that noted a number of major deficiencies in the electoral process as reported by international observers but did not hint at any punitive action against Bashir, who, despite his indictment by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, is likely to win in a landslide, according to the official count of early returns.

"The elections held recently in Sudan were an essential step in a process laid out by Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)," the White House said.

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