EU says concerned with worsening Darfur situation

Aug 19 , 2006 (BRUSSELS) — EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, concerned about a worsening situation in Darfur, will send a special envoy to the Sudanese region shortly, his spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Solana expressed “serious concern at the new deteriorating security situation in Darfur,” Cristina Gallach said in a statement.

The European Union’s special envoy to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, will visit Sudan in the coming days to meet the government, Darfur armed movements, the African Union and the United Nations, Gallach said.

The meetings will look at ways to prevent a new escalation of violence and move the peace process forward.

Pressure mounted on the Sudanese government this week to allow a U.N. peacekeeping force to replace 7,000 AU troops in Darfur. The government in Khartoum opposes the deployment.

The Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003, when non-Arab rebels took up arms against the government, claiming the region was being marginalised.

In response, the government mobilised Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, who have been accused of murder, rape and looting. The fighting has driven some 2.5 million people into camps.

Britain and the United States have introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution that would field up to 17,000 troops and 3,000 police in Darfur.

(Reuters)