Sudan opposed to international peace keepers after accord

KHARTOUM, Jan 29 (AFP) — Sudan does not want an international peace-keeping force to oversee a six-year transition period planned to follow a final peace agreement between the government and the rebel SPLA, a Sudanese minister said on Thursday.

State Foreign Minister Najeeb al-Khair Abdel Wahab told AFP that a Dutch delegation, in Sudan on Wednesday, had asked whether the government wanted such a force or only an obserevation team.

“We consider peace-keeping as mainly a Sudanese responsibility while the role of the international community, including the European Union, will be backing up the Sudanese capability in keeping peace,” Abdel Wahab said.

Sudan had made this clear to Dutch Defence Minister Henk Kamp and International Cooperation Minister Agnes van Ardenne in meetings with Vice President Ali Osman Taha, Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail and himself, he said.

Abdel Wahab said a peace-keeping force could be made up of military units from the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, to be formed as laid down a deal already reach on military and security arrangements.

“We told the European delegation that the role of the international community and the United Nations will be observation and monitoring of the comprehensive ceasefire,” said Abdel Wahab.

“The role of the international community will focus on peace-building rather than peace-keeping,” the minister said.

The Dutch ministers left for Kenya, on Wednesday for a meeting with SPLA leader John Garang with whom, according to the Khartoum press, they would discuss the peace-keeping issue.