Sudan FM questions need for international troops in war-torn Darfur region

LONDON, July 25 (AFP) — Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail Sunday questioned the need for foreign troops in war-torn Darfur, saying his government was doing all it could to disarm Arab militias.

“Why should we have to rush and to talk about military intervention as long as the situation is getting better?” Ismail told BBC television.

“My government is doing what can be done in order to disarm the militia.”

Britain has said it could send 5,000 troops to the region if required, while Australia has said it was considering a UN request for military personnel to join a mission there.

The European Union on Saturday warned Ismail that the country would likely face international sanctions if there was not quick progress in ending the bloodshed in the western region of Darfur.

The United States meanwhile put forward a draft UN Security Council resolution last Thursday authorizing sanctions against Sudan if it does not prosecute Arab militia leaders, particularly the notorious Janjaweed, who are blamed for most of the atrocities.

“We admit that the government is responsible now for bringing law and order to disarm the militia,” Ismail said Sunday.

“But we should not let those who are responsible for bringing these atrocities to get away with it.”

Ismail meanwhile said that his government was grateful for the non-military humanitarian assistance being offered to Sudan.

“For Britain to send humanitarian assistance, for the United States, for the international community (to do the same), that is very, very acknowledged,” he said.

The United Nations estimates that up to 50,000 people have died in Darfur and about 1.2 million have been driven from their homes since a revolt against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum broke out among indigenous black African ethnic minorities in February 2003.