UN Darfur report finds no "genocide", say Sudanese News
UN Darfur report finds no "genocide", say Sudanese

[JURIST] Following up on a story that ran earlier today in JURIST's Paper Chase, a much-anticipated and as-yet-unreleased UN investigation [JURIST report] into human rights abuses in the Darfur region of Sudan does not characterize them as "genocide", according to a spokesman for the Sudanese government, which has seen the report. The study is expected to be made public later this week after presentation to the UN Security Council. Genocide is legally defined by international conventions [UN backgrounder] as the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." Some legal analysts say the convention on genocide [official text], drafted after World War II, sets too high a threshold. American diplomats had previously described the Darfur situation as genocide, but UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Sunday portended today's revelation by saying that it involved "gross violations of human rights" and has recommended sanctions on the oil-exporting country. Also on Monday, Canada, Australia and New Zealand recommended the Security Council enact "targeted measures" that could include travel bans and an assets freeze. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.