Sudan wants oil companies to develop a new oilfield in its troubled northwestern Darfur region Energy and Mining Minister Al-Zubair Ahmed Al-Hassan said…“We urge companies not to deal with the regime in Khartoum in oil exploration,” [said] Ahmed Hussein, a spokesman for…a rebel group in Darfur…“The government uses oil money to strengthen its military machine against the people in Darfur.” China National Petroleum Corp., Malaysia’s Petroleum National Bhd. and India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp are among international companies investing in Sudan. The government is interested in more cooperation with China…Human rights groups…have criticized China for supporting the Sudanese government in exchange for oil while turning a blind eye to the crisis in Darfur. China denies the charges.