Sudanese parliament to probe security situation in Darfur
Nov 23, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese lawmakers criticized a report presented by the Sudanese defense minister on the security situation in troubled region of Darfur. They further decided to set up a committee to probe the situation there.
Sudanese MPs strongly criticized a report presented by the minister of defense Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein on Wednesday on the security situation in Darfur. They described it as untrue and not reflecting the deteriorating situation in the region.
The parliament consequently set up a joint fact finding committee including members from both the security and peace committees to go to Darfur. The task of the joint committee is to verify the situation on the ground in the region in order to compare this to the minister’s report and to prepare a report for parliament in this regard.
The minister gave briefing to the Sudanese parliament in four-hour closed-door meeting.
Hussein was in Darfur last week where he stressed the capability of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to impose the security and defend the nation and its citizens, adding that the slogan of the SAF in Darfur was to “wipe out the rebellion and spread the dignity of the country”.
While addressing officers and soldiers of the western military area in Niyala, south Darfur, Sudanese defense minister said that “Darfur will be the invaders’ graveyard if the UN Security Council thinks about implementing Resolution 1706”.
U.N. humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, decried the “dramatic deterioration” of the security situation in Darfur, where the number of people in need has increased relentlessly from 1 million on his first visit in 2004, and warned on Wednesday that the region could face a major humanitarian disaster within weeks unless there is a real cease-fire and a renewed effort to reach a lasting peace.
He blamed the Sudanese government, the Arab militias it backs and rebel groups for fueling the conflict — and the international community for not protecting innocent civilians living in fear of rape and killings as world leaders pledged to do at a U.N. summit in September 2005.
(ST)