Sudan announced on Saturday that the file of deploying UN
peacekeeping forces in the country's western region of Darfur had
been closed.
Sudanese Minister of State for Information and Communications
Farh Agar made the announcement to reporters at the Sudanese Media
Center.
"Sudan has surmounted the stage of whether to let in the
international forces", Agar told the press.
He said that "the United Nations is now considering how to
support the African forces in Darfur while the Sudanese government
is talking about increasing and supporting the African forces and
reinforcing them with troops from Islamic and Arab countries."
Meanwhile, Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
AliAhmed Karti also said that the Sudanese government was due to
sign new protocol with the United Nations and the African Union
(AU) to absorb the new plan for Darfur.
"The three-month mandate of AU forces in Darfur is not enough to
complete proposals stated in the plan, but it could be helpful for
finalizing a resolution in the region," said Karti.
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It was reported that the UN and AU have presented a plan of sending
UN experts and technicians besides financial assistance to the AU
forces, which have been accepted by the Sudanese government.
In view of Sudan's persistence in its refusal of deploying
international peacekeeping forces in Darfur, the AU decided last
month to extend the mandate of its 7800-strong forces in Darfur to
the end of this year.
(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)
