Washington - United States President George Bush on Wednesday said that "genocide has to be stopped" in western Sudan, and that involvement by Nato should send a "clear signal" of the West's intent.
In unusually candid remarks on a range of international issues, Bush answered questions after a speech on Iraq at Freedom House in the nation's capital.
"This is serious business. This is not playing a diplomatic holding game... When we say genocide, that means genocide has to be stopped," Bush said.
African Union peacekeepers have been in western Sudan's Darfur region for at least a year trying to keep order after more than 180 000 civilians have been killed.
Government-backed militia have gone on killing raids against a local rebel group and the people of the region, displacing at least two million people.
The AU has asked for help from the UN, and the White House has also proposed the involvement of Nato to help with logistics. Khartoum initially resisted UN and Nato involvement, appeared to be softening in recent weeks, but received backing from the Arab League Summit this week in Sudan's capital city to oppose UN involvement.
Nato's eventual involvement is intended "to send a clear signal that the west is determined to help effect a settlement", Bush said.
Washington has in the past used the term "genocide" to describe the killings in Darfur, but equivalent references have not been forthcoming from the European Union, which says it does not have enough information to justify use of the word.
Bush said that the fragile peace settlement between Khartoum and southern Sudanese rebels that calls for power and resource sharing should serve as a model for a settlement with western Sudan. - Sapa-dpa