Sudanese negotiators support UN helicopters in Darfur

April 13, 2007 (KHARTOUM ) — Sudanese officials working to finalize a deal on U.N. support for the African Union mission in Darfur have recommended Khartoum permit the use of attack helicopters by AU troops, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“They have made a positive recommendation and it is now up to the leadership. The president must decide,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig told Reuters.

Khartoum’s acceptance of the helicopters for Darfur peacekeepers would complete an interim plan — a so-called heavy equipment package — to bolster 7,000 AU soldiers in western Sudan with additional equipment and some 3,000 U.N. personnel.

Sudan has not agreed to the next stage of an AU-U.N. operation, which would involve more than 20,000 troops and police in Darfur.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed on Thursday the helicopters would not be used for offensive purposes but rather to help AU peacekeepers protect themselves.

Some African countries with troops in Darfur have threatened to withdraw their forces if they are not better equipped. Senegal on Thursday buried five soldiers killed in an attack in Darfur on April 1.

The underfinanced and underequipped AU force has been unable to stop violence in Darfur, where at least 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million forced to flee their homes, many to arid camps.

Fighting began four years ago among the Arab-dominated government and militia who support them and African rebels, and it has spilled into neighboring Chad.

(Reuters)