A horrendous story from Sudan, in which the BBC goes out of its way to avoid identifying the true reason for the slaughter and rape: Mass rape atrocity in west Sudan. (Thanks to all who emailed.)

More than 100 women have been raped in a single attack carried out by Arab militias in Darfur in western Sudan.

Speaking to the BBC, the United Nations co-ordinator for Sudan, Mukesh Kapila, said the conflict had created the worst humanitarian situation in the world.

He said more than one million people were affected by “ethnic cleansing”.

He said the fighting was characterised by a scorched-earth policy and was comparable in character, if not in scale, to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

“It is more than just a conflict. It is an organised attempt to do away with a group of people,” he said.

Arab militias, backed by the government, have driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, in retaliation for a rebellion launched a year ago by two armed groups.

They accused the Arab-dominated government of ignoring the black African inhabitants of Darfur. …

“All houses as well as a market and a health centre were completely looted and the market burnt. Over 100 women were raped, six in front of their fathers who were later killed,” Mr. Kapila said.

A further 150 women and 200 children were abducted.

This attack a fortnight ago is one of many across the arid territory.

Village after village is being razed to the ground by the militias, he said.

The words “Islam” or “Muslim” do not appear in the article.