Sudan criticizes USA over Darfur crisis

CAIRO, Dec 24, 2004 (MENA) — Sudan criticized on Friday the pressures practised by the United States and the UN Security Council to resolve the Darfur stand-off.

Ismail al-Hajj Musa, the chairman of the legislative and justice committee at the National Assembly (parliament), told Sawat al-Arab radio that this policy encouraged the Darfur rebels to stick to a hardline position in their talks with the Sudanese government.

Hopes of reaching a political settlement of the Darfur crisis at a fourth round of peace talks were dashed in Abuja Tuesday as the parties failed to agree even on a joint statement.

The Sudanese government delegation and those of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement traded counter-accusations on the violation of cease-fire agreements even as the curtain was being drawn on the meeting.