Sudan reiterates refusal of troops under UN command in Darfur

March 17, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government reiterated on Saturday its refusal of deploying an international force under UN command in the war-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur.

“We reject any attempt of deploying international force under the separate command of the UN in Darfur,” Sudanese Presidential Adviser Nafia Ali Nafia told the semi-official Sudanese Media Center.

He said that the Sudanese government had reached agreements with the UN and the African Union (AU) that the peacekeeping force in Darfur would remain under the AU’s command with the UN providing technical support.

The Sudanese official accused the western countries of “trying to detour” the agreements and understandings between Sudan and the UN, especially on the three-phase support package from the UN to the AU peacekeeping troops in Darfur.

He reiterated his government’s desire of realizing a comprehensive peace in Darfur, adding that the Darfur peace was imminent because of the will of the Sudanese people and the joint efforts of the neighboring countries.

According to agreements reached between the Sudanese government, the UN and the AU in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last November and in the Nigerian capital Abuja in December, the UN will gradually increase its support to the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur in three phases until a UN-AU joint force is deployed in the region.

Sudanese media reported that Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir had asked the UN to review these agreements, but the request had been turned down by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The UN secretary general, however, had promised that he would seek a solution of the Darfur crisis only by diplomatic means.

(Xinhua)