Sudanese march on US embassy to protest troop plan

KHARTOUM, Sep 20 (Reuters) Thousands of Sudanese marched on the US embassy in Khartoum today to protest against Western pressure on Sudan to accept 20,000 UN peacekeepers in war-torn Darfur.

The protesters, who see proposed UN peacekeepers in Darfur as an invasion force, chanted ''Down, down USA,'' and ''You will not rule us CIA,'' as they headed towards the embassy.

Thousands of Sudanese security forces in riot gear took up positions to block the march from reaching the US mission.

''We send America this message; what you saw in Afghanistan, what you saw in Somalia, and what you saw from Hizbollah in south Lebanon was a picnic compared to what you will see in Sudan,'' protest organiser Adnan Suleiman said.

Two protesters, including one in a military style uniform commonly worn by members of Sudan's pro-government Popular Defence Forces militia, punched a Reuters journalist covering the protest.

The reporter was not badly injured.

The protest was Sudan's latest challenge to international efforts to persuade it to allow UN peacekeepers to replace a poorly funded African Union (AU) force that has been unable to secure peace in Sudan's west.

The march coincided with a visit by Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to New York, where he is to address the African Union Peace and Security Council on Darfur.

An estimated 200,000 people have died since the conflict flared in the region in 2003.

Sudan is opposed to replacing the 7,000 AU forces with UN troops, who could more aggressively enforce a shaky ceasefire signed in May between the government and one rebel faction.

Bashir has likened UN troops to a new form of colonialism.

Western leaders, some African presidents, and international humanitarian groups say an international force is the only way to stem violence in Darfur, where more than 2 million people have been displaced in fighting between government troops, rebels, and militias.

''We absolutely reject foreign forces,'' said Islamist protester Souad al-Fateh. ''Help the Sudanese people with nice words and dialogue... and put out this fire. If you don't, it will flare and flare and flare until it burns you all.'' REUTERS PB PM2103