By Bob Tourtellotte LOS ANGELES, May 11 (Reuters) - Director Steven Spielbergon Friday joined the chorus of Hollywood stars seeking an endto killing in the Darfur region of Sudan by calling on China topressure the African nation into accepting U.N. peacekeepers. Spielberg, the Oscar-winning director of blockbuster filmsranging from "Jaws" to "Schindler's List," released a letter hesent to Chinese President Hu Jintao in April saying he recentlycame to understand China's strategic support of Sudan. The letter comes at a time when Beijing is preparing forthe 2008 Olympic Games, and some groups and politicians aroundthe world are urging a boycott due to China's economic ties toSudan. In his letter, Spielberg notes he will play a role inthe Olympic Games as an "artistic advisor." "I add my voice to those who ask that China change itspolicy toward Sudan and pressure the Sudanese government toaccept the entrance of United Nations peacekeepers to protectthe victims of genocide in Darfur," Spielberg wrote. He asked to meet with Hu, but so far the Chinese presidenthas not responded, said Spielberg's spokesman, Marvin Levy. Levy said he was certain Hu received and read the letter. Separately on Friday, celebrity couple Brad Pitt andAngelina Jolie issued a statement saying their foundationdonated $1 million to agencies working in and around Darfur. But Spielberg's involvement is new, and in his letter toHu, the director noted the issue of genocide is especiallyclose to him because of his work with the Los Angeles-based USCShoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education. Spielberg established the foundation to document the plightof Jews under the Nazis, and it has videotaped testimonies ofsome 52,000 Holocaust survivors from 56 countries to chroniclethe atrocities committed against them. Spielberg wrote that the mission of the foundation is "touse those testimonies to overcome intolerance, prejudice,bigotry and the suffering they cause." "We are doing that now in many countries around the world,and I hope that China will someday be one of them," he said. China buys much of Sudan's oil and has used its veto poweron the U.N. Security Council to resist sending peacekeepers tothe region without the African country's consent.
