Britain presses for UN to move into Sudan’s Darfur

Feb 22, 2006 (LONDON) — Britain’s International Development Secretary Hilary Benn called Wednesday for the United Nations to take over peacekeeping duties in the conflict-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

“The security situation has deteriorated compared with last June when I was last here in El-Fasher,” said Benn, speaking to BBC radio from Darfur where he was seeing Sudanese officials.

“The rebels have been responsible for an increasing proportion of the attacks. The Arab militia (backed by Khartoum) are still at work… It really reinforces the point that we have to step up the international effort in Darfur.”

A bigger, better-funded UN peacekeeping contingent would step into the boots of an underfunded, overstretched African Union force which, Benn said, is being hindered by the Sudanese government.

Such a multinational presence would not only protect civilians in impoverished Darfur, in the west of Sudan, but also put pressure on negotiators at peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The UN Security Council earlier this month approved contingency planning for UN peacekeepers to take over in Darfur. But Khartoum has opposed a UN deployment, despite strong pressure from Western governments.

Benn called upon the international community to redouble its assistance to Darfur, where up to 300,000 people have died in over three years of conflict.

Britain announced Tuesday it will contribute a further 20 million pounds (29.3 million euros, 34.9 million dollars) to support the African Union mission, in addition to 32 million already committed.

Pressed on possible UN sanctions against Khartoum, Benn said: “The (UN) sanctions committee is now looking at the names of individuals against whom accusations have been made.

“I think it is very important that that work is concluded as quickly as possible. We have to demonstrate that if people do not honour the obligations they have entered into, there will be consequences.

(ST/AFP)