US Powell calls for redoubled effort on Darfur peace

NAIROBI, Jan 8 (AFP) — US Secretary of State Colin Powell called in Nairobi for redoubled efforts to end violence in Sudan’s Darfur region but was silent on a new UN report calling for urgent action to stem worsening bloodshed there.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) holds talks with Sudan’s main rebel leader John Garang (2ndL), at a closed door session in Nairobi, Jan 8, 2008 (AFP).

At a news conference ahead of the signing of a final peace agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Powell also sidestepped a question whether he thought genocide was still occurring in Darfur as he stated four months ago.

Powell, flanked by Sudanese Vice President Ali Taha and rebel leader John Garang, hailed the peace accord to be signed Sunday as a major breakthrough for the impoverished African country.

“I think that this gives us a basis now to redouble our efforts to solve the problem in Darfur,” Powell said, referring to the western region that the United Nations says is the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

But Powell did not respond to the alarm raised Friday by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in a report that highlighted the failure of negotiations and deteriorating security in Darfur.

Asked what further action can be taken on Darfur, he said: “The United Nations still has options before it, including sanctions, and we cannot take any of those options off the table.

“And we will have to examine what further action the international community can take in the form of actions on the part of the Security Council,” he added.

Sudanese troops and their militia allies have been fighting since February 2003 against rebel groups in Darfur, who have been demanding a greater share of oil revenues for development.

Last September 9, Powell said that the violence in Darfur, which has claimed some 70,000 lives and left 1.6 million people homeless, constituted genocide. Asked on Saturday if he still felt that way, his response was vague.

“It was my judgment that genocide was taking place. I haven’t seen the secretary general’s latest report but I look forward to examining it,” said the chief US diplomat.

Powell said he did not think the peace agreement between Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to end a 21-year-old war that has claimed at least 1.5 million lives was clouded by Darfur.

“I think this agreement stands on its own merits,” he said. “There are other wars taking place in Sudan and now we have to go work on bringing them to a conclusion.”

He said the United States, which helped broker the accord to end Africa’s longest conflict, stood ready to help both sides seal the peace through political arrangements and economic development.

“It may be the end of the war but it is just the beginning of peace, and the peace will be a difficult peace,” Powell said.

Taha and Garang both thanked the United States for its role in helping finalize the peace deal after a decade of negotiations and pledged to cooperate in the follow-up work ahead.

Garang earlier told a news conference that Sudan would be torn apart if Sunday’s peace agreement was not implemented.

“If this agreement is dishonoured then, of course, the country will break up,” said Garang, who is due to sign the accord with Sudan’s President Omar el-Beshir.

“But if it is implemented the way it is negotiated, there are good chances that the country can remain united,” he said.