Sudan rejects extension of AU force in Darfur

Sept 30, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government has announced its opposition to the extension of the African Union (AU) force in the war-torn region of Darfur.

The government was commenting on proposals laid out by the UN Secretary General’s special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk whose mission was to convince the Sudanese government approves extension of the AU force in the region.

Representative of the Sudanese president in charge of Darfur affairs Mohamed Ahmad Al-Dabi said in a statement on Saturday that the government does not accept any extension of the AU force beyond what had been agreed on in the African Peace and Security Council meeting in New York recently.

He said the government’s approval was limited to what had been specified to only salvage the peace agreement in Darfur.

Al-Dabi added that Pronk’s statements would not change the government’s principle of opposing the extension of the AU force in the region.

He called on the world community to live up to its responsibilities to back the peace initiatives in the region rather than talking about other alternatives.

Last month the UN Security Council agreed to send a force of some 17,000 troops and 3,000 police forces to Darfur to take over from the existing African Union force, whose mission has been extended until December 31.

But the Sudanese government has repeatedly rejected the offer, arguing such a move risks worsening the situation in the region.

Fighting between government forces and rebel groups in Darfur has killed an estimated 200,000 people while some 2.5 million others have been displaced

(KUNA/ST)