Sudan says peace in Darfur before end of April

Mar 26, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol Sunday announced that reports coming from the Nigerian capital of Abuja affirm the possibility of reaching a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups in Darfur before the end of next April.

Akol said in a press conference at the end of the meetings of the ministerial council of the Arab League here Sunday that the chances for realization of peace in Darfur now is more than in any time before.

He referred to Arab supportive stance to Sudan concerning the problem of Darfur through extending financial and logistic support to the African Union’s troops in Darfur and in order that Darfur issue will not be utilized for serving special agenda.

Sudan has rejected the deployment of U.N. troops to its western Darfur region to relieve a 7,000-strong under-funded and under-equipped African Union force currently monitoring a widely ignored ceasefire there.

The Security Council voted Friday 24 March to keep U.N. peacekeepers in Sudan to monitor Comprehensive Peace Agreement, an accord ending a 21-year civil war and authorized planning for the expected extension of the U.N. force’s operations to Darfur.

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council decided in principle on March 10 to keep the African Union force in Darfur until Sept. 30, when the handover to the U.N. is expected.

(ST)