US welcomes Sudan agreement on Darfur

Nov 17, 2006 (HANOI) — The United States has welcomed an agreement in principle to deploy a joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s troubled western Darfur region.

“It is certainly a real opportunity to resolve what has been an extremely difficult problem,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters travelling with her in Vietnam for an Asia-Pacific summit.

“My hope now is that the Sudanese government will accept this proposal because the situation in Sudan in not improving,” she added, saying it gave Khartoum “a chance to make right with the international system”.

Earlier, US President George W. Bush welcomed the agreement struck by the United Nations, African Union, Arab League and Sudan, according to National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

“This agreement paves the way for a joint AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur composed primarily of and led by Africans, and commanded, supported and funded by the UN,” Johndroe said.

UN chief Kofi Annan said in a statement earlier that the transformation of the current African Union mission into one also involving the world body had been agreed.

He said the UN and AU would call a meeting of all parties that have not signed a May peace deal — mainly two Darfur rebel groups — within two weeks to discuss the matter.

The war in Darfur erupted in February 2003 and since then at least 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.5 million others displaced.

Annan’s statement appeared to signal a change in the position of Khartoum, which has vehemently opposed any significant UN role in Darfur, arguing it would be a violation of its sovereignty and could worsen the situation there.

(AFP)