To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Sudan regarding (a) the special courts and human rights violations and (b) fighting between the Baggara and the Fur Marralit tribes in Darfur. [98003]

We are concerned about the extensive use of the death penalty in Sudan, in particular the lack of legal representation and the use of special courts. We have made representations to the Sudanese Government, most recently to the Minister of Justice on 18 January. Following the executions of 3 men on 8 January, the EU Presidency issued a statement of condemnation on 10 January and raised the case with the Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Justice on 11 January.We are also concerned about reports of clashes between camel herders from the north and the Fur in Jebel Marra. We raised this issue most recently with General Ibrahim Suleiman, Wali of North Darfur and Head of the Darfur Taskforce, on 23 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to participants in the peace process in Sudan regarding the situation in Darfur. [98004]

We have made regular representations on the situation in Darfur to the Government of Sudan in Khartoum, most recently on 18 and 23 January.