Sudan accuses some “foreign circles” of stirring up Darfur conflict

KHARTOUM, Feb 7, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir accused on Monday some “foreign circles” of stirring up conflict in the western region of Darfur.

In an interview with an Iranian TV channel, Bashir affirmed that “some hidden hands are working for stirring up the conflict in Darfur.”

“These foreign circles wanted to internationalize the Darfur issue to divert attention of the international community from what is taking place in Palestine and Iraq,” he said.

He announced that his government will soon reach an agreement with the opposition Democratic National Alliance in Cairo, Egypt, to realize a national compromise among Sudanese people.

The Sudanese president reiterated his government’s determination to implement a peace agreement it signed with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Jan. 9.

“We will achieve our objectives,” he said, referring to an improvement in the wake of the long-standing war in southern Sudan.