Washington: The US Secretary of State Colin Powell today (Sep 10, 2004) termed the abuses by Arab militias in Sudan's Darfur region as "genocide" against the black African population and sought UN investigation into the humanitarian crisis.

"We concluded that genocide has been committed in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed (Arab militias) bear responsibility," he told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Powell said his views were based on the evidence collected and interviews conducted with the refugees from the Darfur region, who faced atrocities at the hands of the Government-backed Arab militias in Sudan's Darfur region.

An estimated 50,000 people have been killed and 1.4 million more displaced in a campaign against black Africans.

The US Secretary of State sought a full investigation from the United Nations. "The US will propose that the next UN Security Council resolution on Sudan request a UN investigation into all violations of international humanitarian law in Darfur," he said.

Powell said that as Sudan was a contracting party to an international genocide convention, it should prevent and punish such acts.