Sudan rejects Darfur war crimes charges, to resist UN efforts
March 15, 2007 (GENEVA) — Allegations the Sudanese government is partly responsible for orchestrating war crimes in Darfur are “baseless” and the country will resist any attempts to impose a U.N. peacekeeping force, Sudan’s justice minister said Thursday.
Numerous reports by the U.N. and rights groups over the past three years have alleged that Sudanese government-backed militias are responsible for killings, rapes and other atrocities in Darfur.
“This really is aimed for media consumption, and is part of a campaign against Sudan,” al-Mardi said.
A new report commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council urges the international community to protect civilians against a Sudanese government-orchestrated campaign in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced by four years of fighting.
The report, drawn up by a team of experts led by U.S. Nobel laureate Jody Williams, has been subject to fierce debate this week within the Geneva-based council and is expected to be presented for approval Friday.
Muslim members of the council, along with Sudan, have already signaled that they reject the findings.
The report comes as the U.S. and the U.K. are urging the international community to take a firm stand against Sudan over its refusal to allow U.N. peacekeepers into Darfur.
Months of international pressure have failed to force Sudan to accept the deployment of thousands of U.N. military, police and other personnel in support of the 7,000-strong African Union force trying to maintain security in the vast desert region.
“The African Union has fulfilled its mission to the best of its ability,” al Mardi said. “However, there was an intention to make the African Union’s efforts fail, so that there would be a pretext for the entry of another international force.”
“We see no reason why there should be joint forces. We insist that Africa, represented by the African Union and the African Union forces, should be the ones to carry out the mission,” he added.
U.S. officials said Wednesday the administration of President George W. Bush is preparing to impose new economic sanctions which would target Sudanese companies and block international transactions involving U.S. dollars unless Khartoum agrees to the U.N. deployment.
“No state has the right to dictate to us or impose its will on us,” al-Mardi said.
“We have shown no hostility to the United States. We have never damaged U.S. interests. However, we too defend our interests, and we will do this in all circumstances,” he said.
Al-Mardi also accused France, Germany, the U.K. and Chad of harboring rebel leaders who were responsible for supplying rebel groups inside Darfur with arms.
(AP)