US condemns rebels attacks in Sudan’s Darfur

Jan 27, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The United States condemns the rebel Sudan Liberation Army’s attacks on the village of Golo and a police convoy in West Darfur on January 23, which killed and wounded a large number of Sudanese Armed Forces personnel.

In a written statement released January 25, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called the attacks “unwarranted and violations of the cease-fire agreement. Their perpetrators must be held accountable,” he said.

McCormack went on to “commend the African Union Mission in Sudan for its response in both of these incidents, particularly its assistance to humanitarian workers caught in the midst of the fighting.”

Despite the presence of 7,000 African Union (AU) peacekeepers, violence has continued in Darfur.

An estimated 3000,000 people have died, according to news reports, and another 2 million have been displaced to refugee camps since rebels began fighting the Sudanese government and Arab militiamen three years ago.

A cease-fire agreement reached in May 2003 is not holding. Another round of AU-sponsored peace talks has concluded in Abuja, Nigeria, but attacks continue and the humanitarian situation steadily is deteriorating.

(ST/Washingto file)