George Clooney 'calls for help for Darfur'

George Clooney has called on world leaders to advocate diplomacy in the Darfur region of Sudan, which has been engulfed in a civil war since 2003.

In an interview on The Today Show, the Oscar winner said that the African country's humanitarian crisis could be alleviated if world leaders put pressure on the nation's opposing forces to begin negotiating for peace.

"I think it can be stopped," he said. "We stopped [a previous conflict] in 2005 with diplomacy. We didn't stop it with soldiers. So, yes, if we get involved now, we have a shot."

Clooney claimed that it is now time for the US government to take a leading role in curbing hostilities in Sudan.

"It doesn't matter what I believe, because obviously I'm an actor. The secretary of state [Hillary Clinton] said it's a ticking time bomb. The CIA said this is the next genocide if we're not careful - it is the biggest risk. The president [Barack Obama] has said as much," the star explained.

"Everyone acknowledges that this is what is going to take place if someone doesn't moderate and mediate… I'm just trying to say it as loud as possible."