Prophet drawings led to attacks on aid workers in Sudan – EU Official

Feb 22, 2006 (HELSINKI) — The European Union’s representative to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, said Wednesday that the prophet drawings controversy had led to attacks on foreign aid workers in Sudan.

“The Danish cartoon scandal did not help the situation (in Darfur) at all,” Haavisto told reporters in the Finnish capital. “There were some attacks, that were driven by the cartoon scandal, against foreign aid organizations,” Haavisto said, but didn’t give details.

He said major problems facing the region were “bandit-like rebel groups that were out of control,” and instability in relations between Sudan and neighboring Chad, despite a peace pact signed by the neighboring countries earlier this month.

“The situation on the ground is very difficult,” Haavisto said.

Haavisto was named the E.U.’s special representative to Sudan in last year to oversee peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, and monitor developments in southern Sudan. His appointment was extended until July this year, he said.

Haavisto ruled out sending NATO or E.U. troops to the region where 7,000 African Union peacekeepers have failed to halt the violence, and urged the U.N. Security Council to decide on assistance.

“We need good United Nations logistics and good U.N.-led peacekeeping forces and mainly African peacekeepers in the region,” Haavisto said.

An estimated 180,000 people have died, mainly of hunger and disease, and more than 2 million have been displaced since the conflict started three years ago. Arab militias are accused of widespread atrocities against civilians.

(ST/AP)