Sudan’s Turabi disapproves Darfur peace deal
May 13, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The leader of the opposition Popular National Congress party (PNC), Hassan Abdellah al-Turabi, has condemned the Abuja peace accord on Darfur.
In an interview with satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera Al-Turabi said the agreement did not take into consideration the political suffering of the people of Darfur, since the time of the British colonial rule in addition to poverty, drought and dwindling resources.
He said the main rebel group in the region, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), signed the accord under US pressure and threats of prosecuting those who will not sign it.
Al-Turabi said African and Arab countries were also involved in pressurizing the rebel group into signing the agreement, giving an example of Libya, which he alleged threatened to cut off assistance to the parties which will not sign the accord.
Al-Turabi said the public opinion in Darfur from students to political parties are against the Abuja peace deal.
Al-Turabi said most of those who participated in the negotiations told him about the nature of the pressure which was exerted on the rebel movements.
On intervention by an international force in Darfur, al-Turabi said the USA which attended the recent Abuja peace talks did not discuss the real issues which affect Darfurians but, the location of its forces in the region.
(ST)