U.N. humanitarian chief barred from visiting Darfur refugee camp

KASSAB, Sudan -- Sudanese troops barred the U.N. humanitarian chief on Saturday from a refugee camp whose residents have been raped and attacked by gunmen suspected of belonging to pro-government militias.

The convoy carrying John Holmes was halted at a checkpoint about a mile outside the Kassab refugee camp, and he was told he lacked the proper papers for a visit there.

"I'm frustrated, annoyed, but it's not atypical of what happens here," Holmes told journalists traveling with him. He said he had obtained all the necessary clearances from the government in Khartoum.

The soldiers at the checkpoint briefly prevented a car carrying journalists from leaving after Holmes turned back. The journalists were only allowed to leave after the troops confiscated a videotape from a U.N. television cameraman.

Holmes, on his first trip to the region, said Friday he pressed Sudanese officials to grant better access to aid workers trying to help Darfurians.