Sudan reiterates rejection to foreign intervention in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Mar 8, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government on Tuesday reiterated its rejection to any foreign intervention in the troubled Darfur region.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail told reporters that the majority of United Nations Security Council members also opposed foreign intervention in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, where a two-year conflict has killed thousands of people.

Instead, the majority of the council members supported an African Union’s monitoring mandate, the minister added.

Ismail’s remarks came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan renewed calls on Monday for speedy actions by the Security Council to find a solution to the Darfur issue.

Conflicts have flared up in the region since February 2003 when two main rebel groups took up arms against the government, accusing it of neglecting the barren area.

With a humanitarian crisis unfolding, the United States sought to slap sanctions on the Sudanese government and send international peacekeeping forces to the region to contain violence.

The United Nations, however, called on the international community to help the AU deploy required troops to monitor a ceasefire signed between the government and Darfur rebels.

The ceasefire agreement was signed between the conflicting parties last year, but there have been reports of violations on both sides.