UN chief says concerned by “troubling reports” of violence in Darfur

November 19, 2008 (UNITED NATIONS) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed concerned by “troubling reports” of fighting and aerial bombings by Sudanese military forces in Darfur. He further said that the UN tries to verify these reports.

The hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, has received reports about aerial attacks by Sudanese military planes on area near Kutum, a town in North Darfur state. Further, fresh clashes have also been reported in the area around Tine in West Darfur and along the border with Chad.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ban said he takes the reports very seriously and he “calls on all parties to refrain from hostilities, to respect the spirit of the ceasefire recently declared by the Government of Sudan and to cooperate with UNAMID in investigating these reports.”

The Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir announced unilateral ceasefire on November 12 at the closing session of a forum held in Khartoum to adopt a national stance on the resolution of Darfur conflict. The declaration was hailed by many regional and international organisations but the rebels minimized it saying it was part of Khartoum propaganda.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past five years because of fighting between rebels and Government forces, while another 2.7 million people had to flee their homes.

The Sudanese army admitted last week the fighting with the rebel groups but said there were clashes with bandits who had attacked a convoy of relief trucks. The army also denied the air strikes.

Ban Ki-Moon also reaffirmed that the U.N. is probing the attacks.

Last Saturday, the joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur said it is investigating rebel accusations that the Sudanese government bombed the territory shortly after announcing a ceasefire.

“We received information about bombing in North Darfur and we are trying to confirm this information from our troops on the ground,” Major Ahmed Salah, deputy military spokesman for the mission, said.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past five years because of fighting between rebels and Government forces, while another 2.7 million people had to flee their homes.

(ST)