Steven Spielberg Threatens to Quit Beijing Olympics Role  7/28/07

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has threatened to leave his position as artistic director of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, unless China takes action against Sudan.

China is a major investor in the African country's oil industry and has been criticized for failing to send United Nations peacekeeping troops to the troubled Darfur region.

The Chinese have also been accused of selling weapons to Sudan.

Spielberg wrote to Chinese president Hu Jintao in May (07) urging him to use his influence to encourage Sudan to accept peacekeepers. Now he is warning he will decide in the next month if he will withdraw his support of the games.

His spokesman Andy Spahn says, "Steven is one (of) many advisers to the Beijing Games and he is trying to use the games to engage the Chinese on this issue.

"Steven will make a determination in the next few weeks regarding his work with the Chinese.

"Our main interest is ending the genocide.

"No one is clear on the best way to do this."

Spielberg's move comes after actress Mia Farrow criticized him for supporting the games. She said, "Does Mr Spielberg really want to go down in history as the Leni Riefenstahl of the Beijing Games?"