The network has turned down sponsors for a cruise line catering to the gay community as well as a lobbying group wanting to protest job discrimination against gay men and lesbians.

CNN: Gay characters don't always cost TV ad dollars

Since the mainly African Muslim rebels took up arms in 2003, in protest against what they felt to be years of discrimination and neglect at the hands of the Arab Muslims in Khartoum, as many as 300, 000 civilians have been killed and a further 2m or more forced to flee their homes.

ECONOMIST: Darfur