AU says Sudan bombs Darfur rebels after commitment to ceasefire

Dec 30, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The African Union condemned Sudanese government for bombing rebel positions in North Darfur after their commitment to ceasefire as result to AU efforts for peace in Sudan’s troubled region.

The Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission Maj Gen Luke Aprezi said that the Sudanese Antonov aircraft were bombing on Friday Anka and Um Rai in North Darfur where he had held meetings with the SLA commanders on Wednesday and obtained their commitment to a ceasefire.

According an African Union statement, the Sudanese government official in Darfur and Khartoum had gave their consent to the meeting and assured AMIS leadership not to attack rebel positions “unless attacked”.

This attack “has the potential to derail the current efforts to broaden the support base for the DPA process and make it more inclusive.” the AU statement said.

The Nigerian general urged the Sudanese government to stop such attacks because it dashes the fragile ceasefire in Darfur.

Sudan signed a peace agreement in May 2006 with a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi, but the rest of the rebel groups reject the deal saying it does not meet their demands. Sudan accepted recently to open the talks with the hold out rebel groups in order to discuss these demands.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council gave a cautious welcome to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s readiness to accept the deployment of a joint African Union-UN force in strife-torn Darfur.

(ST)

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Below the text of the African Union Statement:

At Approximately 15.00 hours yesterday, Friday 29 December 2006, the Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission, Major General Luke Aprez,i was informed that Gos Antonov was bombing two locations, Anka and Um Rai, in North Darfur.

These localities are the places where he held a meeting with the SLA-NSF Commanders on Wednesday and obtained their commitment to a Ceasefire.

This attack by GoS is a seriously disturbing development, especially given that the GoS Representatives at the level of Darfur and Khartoum gave their consent to this meeting, and assured AMIS Leadership, not to attack unless attacked. It also has the potential to derail the current efforts to broaden the support base for the DPA process and make it more inclusive.

Consequently, the Chairman of the CFC calls on the GoS to desist from further bombardment as not to scuttle the fragile ceasefire.

Khartoum, December 30, 2006