Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that he would join Secretary of State Colin L. Powell in Sudan next week in an effort to compel the government there to end the “catastrophe” facing its people. “The people of Darfur are suffering a catastrophe, terrible crimes have been committed against them,” he said. He was referring to the area of the country where progovernment Arab militias are evicting and killing black Muslims in a campaign that he said “is bordering on ethnic cleansing.” Mr. Annan said that he and Mr. Powell would be “collectively putting pressure” on Khartoum to ease restrictions and halt attacks on aid workers trying to get to tens of thousands of people in need of food and water. They will also urge the Sudan government to disband the so-called Janjaweed militias, which it finances and equips.Full Story