posted May 16, 2006 06:34 PM            

The members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a news conference in front of the embassy property, then moved to block the entrance to deliberately prompt their arrests, said Christopher Johnson, spokesman for North Carolina Democratic Rep. Mel Watt.

"It's time for the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the world community to raise the ante on Sudan," Watt, the caucus chairman, said in a statement.

Also arrested were Democratic Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Barbara Lee of California, Eddie Bernice Johnson and Al Green of Texas, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

The lawmakers were led away in plastic handcuffs and paid $50 fines, Johnson said.

"We must not forget that while we consider what to do, the situation on the ground is worsening for the millions of people affected by the crisis," Lewis said in a statement.

Five other members of Congress were arrested last month at the Embassy of Sudan protesting the Darfur situation after deliberately going on embassy property.

U.N. and U.S. officials have accused the Sudanese government of arming marauding Arab militias, who have raped, pillaged, and killed tens of thousands in Darfur, and driven more than 2 million villagers into squalid camps. Sudan has denied the charge.

The Khartoum government and the biggest faction of the rebel Sudan Liberation Army signed an agreement on May 5 aimed at stemming the violence, but a rival SLA faction and a smaller rebel group have refused to sign.

The international community fears the accord will not stop the war if only one rebel faction supports it. Refugees have rioted against the deal in several camps in Darfur.

The CBC members called for a U.N. peacekeeping mission to help the African Union mission control the violence, for President George W. Bush to press Sudan to release food aid to help people in Darfur, improved civilian protection and return of refugees, and full implementation of peace agreements.