AL head ends Sudan visit, denies discussing troop deployment

KHARTOUM, Dec 29, 2004 (MENA) — Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa said the Arab League will support the reconstruction of war-stricken areas in Sudan and take part in all follow-up committees of the final peace agreement between Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) during the transitional phase and until a referendum is held on the fate of south Sudan.

In statements to MENA on Wednesday, Musa, who wound up a three-day visit to Sudan Tuesday night, denied that the Arab League had discussed the issue of sending Arab troops to monitor the implementation of the final peace agreement in Sudan.

As for the role of the Arab League in settling the Darfur problem, he said the Arab League attended Abuja negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels and took part in all the follow-up committees of the negotiations.

Asked about the Arab League reform file, he said new reform steps will be discussed during the Arab summit in Algiers in March, pointing out that the main step is to establish a joint Arab parliament and the formation of joint Arab troops.

He called for unifying Arab ranks in confronting dangers facing the Arab world.

He reiterated the importance of Arab-African cooperation based on participation in development process, adding that the issue will be on the agenda of the upcoming Arab summit.