Sudan must approve deployment of UN forces – Egypt

Mar 1, 2006 (CAIRO) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Wednesday that the Sudanese government must approve the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping force in the conflict-wracked Darfur region before it can happen.

In a meeting with the British envoy to Darfur, Alan Goulty, he said Africa must keep the main responsibility of restore peace in the region, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Aboul Gheit added that those involved in the conflict must reach a peace agreement before international forces are deployed, the statement said.

Solving Darfur’s problems must be based on “a political settlement accepted by all sides and backed by wide popular support within the framework of a unified Sudan,” the statement quoted Aboul Gheit as saying.

On Tuesday, the top U.N. envoy in Sudan, Jan Pronk, said Sudan began a campaign to keep African Union troops in Darfur and prevent a U.N. force from taking over.

The U.N. Security Council has authorized the start of planning for a takeover, and U.S. Ambassador John Bolton tried unsuccessfully to get the council to authorize the new U.N. force.

Sudan warned last month that United Nations peacekeepers could be at risk if they deployed in Darfur, saying it would be difficult to provide them with protection.

An estimated 180,000 people have died, mainly of hunger and disease, and some 2 million have been displaced since rebels from Darfur’s ethnic African population revolted three years ago, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination and decades of neglect.

The Sudanese government is widely alleged to have unleashed Arab militias who carried out sweeping atrocities against ethnic African villagers. Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir denies his government supports the militia, known as Janjaweed.

(ST/AP)