U.S. expresses concern over deteriorating situation in western Sudan

WASHINGTON, Dec 16, 2003 (AP) — The United States is deeply concerned over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the Darfur region of western Sudan, the State Department said Tuesday.

The United Nations and non-governmental organizations have had to curtail aid programs in the region because of fighting between the Sudanese government and rebels from the Sudan Liberation Army, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

“The United States deplores the parties’ lack of engagement to end hostilities in Darfur despite efforts by the United Nations and the government in Chad to facilitate talks and a humanitarian cease-fire,” he said.

Boucher said reports indicate more than 600,000 people have been internally displaced and 75,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad and as many as 3,000 unarmed civilians killed.

“The United States calls on all parties to agree an observable humanitarian cease-fire and engage in substantive dialogue on ending the hostilities in Darfur,” Boucher said.

His statement said the fighting in Darfur is not linked to peace talks between Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

A third round of talks aimed at bringing the conflict in Darfur to end broke down in Chad Tuesday.

The Sudan Liberation Army has demanded self-determination for Darfur and has been fighting government troops and government-backed militias since February. The militiamen are drawn from Sudan’s Muslim, Arab population. The rebels in Darfur, although Muslim, are black Africans, often of mixed Arabic ancestry.