Bashir says foreign circles targeting Sudan

Feb 25, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — President of the Republic Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir affirmed that the government will not accept transfer of the mission of the African Union (AU) forces in Darfur to international troops.

President Omar al-bashir.

Addressing at the Friendship Hall Saturday the committee of the Comprehensive Conference of Darfur People, President Al-Bashir accused foreign circles of targeting Darfur and Sudan.

The President of the Republic said that the AU troops entered Darfur according to an agreement with the government, saying that after these troops became reality and supported by financial fund, these circles want to change their tactics, as the financing issue is one of the African Union forces weaknesses.

The President of the Republic renewed keenness of the government to reach a settlement in Abuja, pointing out that the government delegation to the peace talks is fully mandated.

About development and financing of projects in Darfur, President Al-Bashir affirmed that funds are ready, but the security problems have stopped implementation of the projects.

He pointing out that a sum of 25 million dollars was allocated for water in Darfur, whose spending was not completed due to the security situation.

The AU Peace and Security Council will hold a ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa next week to discuss proposals for UN troops’ takeover of the AU’s peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

The council announced last month its “support in principle” for the UN deployment of international peacekeeping forces to replace AU forces. The AU currently maintains some 7,800-strong forces, including troops and observers, in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Last December, the AU said that it needed an extra 130 million U.S. dollars to meet the demand of peacekeeping in Darfur. Rebels took up arms in February 2003 in Sudan’s arid Darfur region, accusing Khartoum of negligence.

(ST)