Sudan accuses US envoy of being an obstacle to peace in Darfur

By Wasil Ali

July 15, 2007 (NEW YORK) — Sudan’s envoy to the UN Abdalhaleem Abdalmahmood blasted statements made by US special envoy to Sudan in which he accused Khartoum of resuming aerial bombings in Darfur.

Andrew Natsios, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan told reporters in Khartoum that Sudanese air force have been bombing the areas of Jebel Marra, a stronghold of rebel leader Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nour.

Abdalmahmood told the BBC Arabic Service that Natsios is “a stumbling block to peace in Darfur” and denied that his government carried out any bombings in Darfur.

A UN report released by panel of experts in APril accused Khartoum of using aircraft disguised as UN aircraft to ship weapons into Darfur and to bomb targets in Darfur.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted resolution 1591 which bans all military flights over Darfur. However no enforcement mechanisms have set forth in the resolution and Khartoum is believed to have routinely violated the ban.

(ST)