Sudanese government concerned with crisis in Darfur- minister

GENEVA, March 14, 2005 (Xinhua) — A senior Sudanese official said here Monday that the agreements concerning conflict in Darfur, in western Sudan, have yet to be fully implemented, and called on international societies to help end the crisis.

Although the government and the two Darfur rebel movements signed several humanitarian and ceasefire protocols in 2004, “the situation in Darfur continued to be of deep concern to the government,” said Ali M.O. Yassin, minister of justice and head ofthe Sudanese delegation, at the annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

One of the major impediments to improving the security situation in Darfur has been the well-documented failure of rebel movements to abide by the cease-fire agreement and their refusal to move their forces into specified areas as stipulated in the agreements, said Yassin.

The government has agreed to a further increase in African Union monitors and their protection forces, he added.

“The vital role of the African Union in Darfur has to be preserved, strengthened, and augmented. Financial, logistical and technical assistance is needed by the African Union to shoulder its responsibilities and fulfill its mandate,” he said.

The minister said the Sudanese government is particularly focused upon the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

The international community should call on the rebel movements in Darfur to implement the protocols and should as well denounce the targeting by the Darfur rebels of humanitarian personnel through intimidation, abduction and murder, he said.