Annan blasts Khartoum

UNITED NATIONS – UN chief Kofi Annan on Monday blasted a Sudanese government onslaught against rebels in strife-torn Darfur as Security Council members vented mounting exasperation with Khartoum’s refusal to accept a UN take over of peacekeeping there.

Annan briefed the 15-member council on “deeply dismaying reports of renewed fighting, particularly in North Darfur.” Annan said the latest fighting “shows utter disregard” for the Darfur Peace Agreement, signed in Nigeria last May by Khartoum and the main Darfur rebel movement.Two other rebel groups have refused to sign the deal.Several council members appealed to Khartoum to accept council resolution 1706, which authorised deployment of 20 000 UN peacekeepers to take over from cash-strapped African Union (AU) forces in Darfur.”I have tried repeatedly to explain the transition to the (Sudanese) government, and to clear up any misconceptions or myths,” Annan told the 15-member council session, which was attended by representatives of Sudan, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the African Union.”Once again, I urge the government of Sudan to embrace the spirit of resolution 1706, to give its consent to the transition,” the UN chief added.Nampa-AFPAnnan said the latest fighting “shows utter disregard” for the Darfur Peace Agreement, signed in Nigeria last May by Khartoum and the main Darfur rebel movement.Two other rebel groups have refused to sign the deal.Several council members appealed to Khartoum to accept council resolution 1706, which authorised deployment of 20 000 UN peacekeepers to take over from cash-strapped African Union (AU) forces in Darfur.”I have tried repeatedly to explain the transition to the (Sudanese) government, and to clear up any misconceptions or myths,” Annan told the 15-member council session, which was attended by representatives of Sudan, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the African Union.”Once again, I urge the government of Sudan to embrace the spirit of resolution 1706, to give its consent to the transition,” the UN chief added.Nampa-AFP