Sudan, AU, Un hold consultations on Darfur peacekeeping force

Oct 28, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that the Sudanese government, the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) are holding consultations on the peacekeeping issue in Sudan’s restive western region of Darfur.

Spokesman for the Sudanese Foreign Ministry Ali al-Sadig told reporters on Saturday that the consultations aimed at crystallizing a proposal, known as “the third road,” which suggested deployment of a reinforced AU force after it expires on Dec. 31.

Because of Sudan’s rejection to deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Darfur, “the third road” was come up to keep the presence of the AU force in Darfur with the help of the UN and international community in the logistic, technical and financial fields.

“The third road means there is a possibility of reaching a formula between the position taken by Sudan and that taken by some country and their insistence that the UN Resolution 1706 be implemented,” al-Sadig said while commenting on the proposal.

He said that assisting the current AU forces was the most suitable solution for the Darfur problem and that all consultations currently focus on provision of assistance to the AUforces in Darfur.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Aug. 31 calling for the deployment of more than 20,000 international peacekeepers to replace the 7,800 AU forces in Darfur.

But the Sudanese government has rejected the mission transfer, saying it was a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty and an effort by the West to colonize the African oil producing country.

(Xinhua)