Clooney puts pressure on Olympic hosts

George Clooney is stepping into the row over 2008 Olympic host country China's trade links with Sudan - because of his sponsorship deal with Games sponsors Omega.

Clooney endorses the luxury watch brand, which has been an Olympic partner since 1932.

According to the New York Daily News, the star - a United Nations Messenger of Peace - is asking the firm to use its position to pressure China over its trade links with the African nation, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and more than two million turned into refugees by famine and war, since civil war broke out in 2003.

The move comes a month after director Steven Spielberg withdrew from the role of Olympic Artistic Director for the same reason.