Arab League: Give Sudan time

The Arab League has urged the UN Security Council to “avoid precipitate action” in the Darfur crisis.

Talks on Sudanese crisis were hosted by neighbouring Egypt

The 22-member bloc on Tuesday also said the UN should give the Sudanese government time to honour its commitments.

In a statement released after the league’s latest meeting, members reacted to hints of foreign intervention made by various countries around the world.

Hailing the “steps already taken by the Sudanese government to implement its agreement with the United Nations”, the Arab League called on the international community to help the Khartoum government implement the accord in full.

The bloc was referring to an agreement struck by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during a visit to Khartoum earlier this month.

UN agreement

The Sudanese government vowed to rein in – within 90 days – the Janjawid militias, which the international community largely blames for the crisis.

The bloc also distanced itself from international condemnation of the Janjawid, calling on the ethnic minority rebels in Darfur to take the initiative. 
  

Red Cross delivers food to Tulumcamp on the Chad-Sudan border
Red Cross delivers food to Tulumcamp on the Chad-Sudan border

Red Cross delivers food to Tulum
camp on the Chad-Sudan border

“The Sudan Liberation Movement and the Movement for Justice and Equality [need] to resume direct negotiations with the Sudanese government under the auspices of the African Union to find a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Darfur and restore stability to the region.”
  
The two rebel groups walked out of African Union-sponsored talks in Addis Ababa earlier this month, accusing Khartoum of intransigence. 
  
US warning

The league’s meeting came as US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Cairo with Darfur high on his agenda and as Khartoum mobilised all government institutions, warning it would resist any foreign intervention on its soil.
  
Powell, too, cautioned against “premature” military intervention in Darfur, but stressed the threat of international action remained.
  
Washington has led efforts at the UN Security Council to internationalise the crisis, which the world body describes as the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world.

About 50,000 people are reported to have been killed in the conflict with more than a million driven from their homes. 

Sudanese view

Speaking to CNN, Sudanese Human Isuues Minister Ibrahim Hamid blamed “foreign parties” for aiding rebels in Darfur.

“Rebels could not eneter the province’s capital, the Fashir city and attack everything, with huge media attention, unless they enjoy the support of foreign parties” he said.

The Sudanese minister stressed that his country sees no point of bringing foreign troops in Darfur, hinting at government plan to disarm all armed groups in Darfur, that would involve neighbouring countries.

He said 200 thousand refugees have already returned to their homes in which they lived before the war started.

Hamid also disengaged the Sudanese government from Janjawid militias, branding them as outlawed groups of people, whose profession is theft.

“The Sudanese government is working to bring Janjawid militais to justice.”

Source: Reuters