Bush calls for rapid deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush expects to speed up the deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday.

In his meeting with Richard Williamson, U.S. special envoy for Sudan, Bush said it needs to "press for rapid deployment of the UN force and humanitarian access on the ground," Perino told reporters.

Some 9,000 civilians have been killed and about 1 million people were displaced since the conflict erupted in Sudan's western Darfur region in February 2003.

Bush named Andrew Natsios as his special envoy for Sudan in September 2006 to end the violence in Sudan's western Darfur region.

Williamson replaced Natsios who resigned on Dec. 21 last year.