Celebs lead the way as protesters demand end to Darfur crisis

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As part of the campaign, celebrities including Elton John, Mick Jagger, George Clooney and Mia Farrow issued a statement Sunday calling for an end to the bloodshed and accusing the international community of failing to act.

"As we mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the killing, we have come together to say that time is up," the statement said.

"The international community must end its stalling and take decisive action."

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Hugh Grant led the charge of celebrities who are demanding world leaders stop the carnage in Darfur

Outside No10, protestors handed a letter to Gareth Thomas, a government minister with responsibility for international development, calling for the quick deployment of a strong peacekeeping force in the violence-wracked region of western Sudan.

They held a two metre (7-foot) hourglass filled with artificial blood meant to symbolize that time is running out to protect civilian lives.

The letter, addressed to Blair, urged the prime minister "to use your influence to push the international community to call for action."

"Time is running out for the people of Darfur, and we urge you to keep the pressure on the government of Sudan until there is an effective peacekeeping force on the ground protecting civilians," the letter said.

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Demonstrators rallied outside Prime Minister Tony Blair's residence Sunday as part of a global day of protests against the bloodshed in Darfur

Organisers said 3,500 people attended the rally. Police did not immediately have an estimate of the turnout.

Demonstrations were planned in more than 30 countries Sunday, designated by campaigners as a global day of action against the conflict that has killed at least 200,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million since 2003.

Organizers said they chose the date, April 29, as the approximate fourth anniversary of the start of fighting.

Rebels have been fighting the Sudanese army and the pro-government janjaweed militia in Darfur for the past four years, turning the region into the world's largest humanitarian disaster.

There are currently 7,000 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur, but they have been unable to stop the violence.

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir had agreed that a new United Nations-African Union joint peacekeeping force should be deployed in the region quickly.

Al-Bashir agreed in November to a three-phase U.N. plan to strengthen the African Union force, but has delayed allowing its implementation.