African Union delays decision on Darfur peacekeepers -BBC
LONDON, Aug 10, 2004 (Dow Jones) — The African Union has delayed any decision on deploying an African peacekeeping force to Darfur, the BBC reports on its Web site Tuesday.
Sudan had earlier rejected the AU’s proposal to deploy more than 2,000 troops in the region.
AU officials said at a meeting in Addis Ababa they were still working on the terms of the force’s mandate.
The U.N. says more than one million people have been displaced by conflict in Darfur and many face the threat of hunger and disease.
Ahead of the AU talks, Sudan ‘s Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail warned that the “security of Darfur is the responsibility of Sudan alone.”
The Sudanese ambassador in Addis Ababa, Osman al-Said, said Sudan had agreed to accept only 300 troops solely to protect ceasefire monitors.
The U.N. says two rebel groups in the Darfur region have agreed to allow the vaccination of up to 500,000 children against polio and measles.
U.N. agencies have been unable to reach them until now, because they live behind rebel lines.
The organization said it had reached agreement with the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement for the vaccination program.
The vaccinations will begin around Aug. 21 in North Darfur.
The U.N. says armed Arab militiamen, sometimes helped by uniformed soldiers are continuing to carry out attacks in Darfur.
Fred Eckhard, spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, said: “The security situation in Darfur remains tenuous, with more violence directed at and displacing civilians in North and South Darfur.”
Sudan has warned it will not be able to comply with a U.N. demand to disarm the Arab Janjaweed militia by the end of August or face international action.
Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha said 6,000 Sudanese police and government troops were currently in Darfur, and there were plans to expand the force to 12,000.
But he said logistical problems were hampering deployment, which meant that fully disarming the Janjaweed and other forces, by the end of August would not be possible.
The Arab League has given some support to Sudan , calling on the U.N. to give it more time to resolve the conflict.
Sudan ‘s government has said it is ready to resume peace talks with two rebel groups in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Aug. 23 Rebels are saying they will not take part.
Sudan denies it supports the Janjaweed and has angrily rejected the threat of foreign intervention.
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