UN lauds Sudanese govt for cooperation over troubled Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec 11, 2004 (PANA) – The UN here has acknowledged Khartoum’s cooperation, unlike the rebel movements, towards facilitating humanitarian access to internally displaced persons in Sudan’s troubled western region of Darfur, official sources affirmed here Saturday.

Local media reports quoted a UN spokesperson as saying the
insurgents in Darfur were “uncooperative” and had “imposed very difficult conditions for NGOs.”

Concern over alleged rebel intransigence came even as a fourth
round of talks on the crisis in Darfur were set to open Saturday
in Abuja, Nigeria.

The talks sponsored by the African Union and earlier slated to
start on Friday, were re-slated after rebel leaders complained of
travel problems.

“It is feared that this round of negotiations could fail if the
parties do not show restraint,” a statement from the office of
the UN representative to Darfur, Jan Pronk, conceded earlier last
Thursday.

Pronk also slammed the government over clashes last Wednesday
near El Fashir in north Darfur, saying its military actions
ignited a new round of fighting.

Even so, Human Affairs state minister Mohamed Yusif remained
upbeat, saying the government expects to reach a peace accord
with the Darfur rebels within two months.

In a press release Saturday, Yusif said a settlement would most
likely be linked to a separate deal being negotiated to end the
21-year secessionist war in southern Sudan.