Britain pledges to exercise pressure on Darfur rebels: SUNA

KHARTOUM, Sep 18, 2004 (SUNA) — The British Foreign Office has promised to exercise pressure on Darfur rebels to abide by N’djamena agreement in respect with the humanitarian protocol and ceasefire.

Britain also announced increasing its assistance to Darfur and supporting peaceful coexistence initiatives among citizens in Darfur.

In a press statement following his meeting with the visiting British State Minister at the Foreign Office, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Eng. Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said that the British Foreign Office had announced a support of four million sterling pounds to combat desert locusts.

He added that his meeting with the British official had discussed situations in Darfur and Britain’s contribution to the humanitarian work, pointing out to the continuous progress the situation is witnessing.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs affirmed the government’s commitment to reach a peaceful political solution, achieve security for the citizens and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people, pointing out that the repatriation of refugees is the responsibility of the international community according to the international law.

Eng. Hamid underlined the government continuity in the voluntary repatriation programme and boosting the humanitarian situation by providing services to the citizens.