KHARTOUM – The United States urged Sudan yesterday to accept UN troops as part of a hybrid peacekeeping force for Darfur as the world body awaited word from the African Union on reports Khartoum had agreed to a joint deployment.
The Saudi state news agency reported on Sunday that Sudan had signed a deal with the United Nations and the AU on deployment of African and UN forces in Darfur, but gave few details. The United Nations said it had not yet received word.US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a news conference a hybrid force was critical to a Darfur peace deal signed by Khartoum and one rebel group in May 2006.But in apparent recognition of Khartoum’s opposition to Western troops in Darfur, Negroponte told reporters a hybrid force would be predominantly African.Nampa-ReutersThe United Nations said it had not yet received word.US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a news conference a hybrid force was critical to a Darfur peace deal signed by Khartoum and one rebel group in May 2006.But in apparent recognition of Khartoum’s opposition to Western troops in Darfur, Negroponte told reporters a hybrid force would be predominantly African.Nampa-Reuters
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