Sudan to pull out if Britain sent forces to Darfur

PARIS – Sudan would withdraw government troops from its violence-wracked Darfur region if Britain sends forces in, Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Ismail said yesterday during a visit to Paris.

Asked about a press report in Britain that prime minister Tony Blair had ordered plans be made for a possible deployment of British soldiers to Darfur, Ismail said: “If he is to send troops to Darfur, let him inform us officially and what we will do is withdraw our troops from Darfur.” Ismail added that, if such a development occurred, “we will give him the chance if he can give security to Darfur.”In London, however, Blair denied yesterday’s report in the Guardian daily, calling it “premature”.”Now we rule nothing out, but we’re not at the stage yet (of sending troops)… because we have a strategy that we implement now,” Blair said, although he added that Western nations had a “moral responsibility” to take action.More than a year of fighting in Sudan’s western Darfur region has killed some 10 000 people and left more than a million homeless.The violence started when rebel groups rose up in February 2003, prompting a brutal crackdown by Sudanese forces and affiliated Arab militias.UN officials say the latter, known as Janjaweed militias, have carried out a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against black Africans.Rights groups have spoken of systematic rape being inflicted.- Nampa-AFPIsmail added that, if such a development occurred, “we will give him the chance if he can give security to Darfur.”In London, however, Blair denied yesterday’s report in the Guardian daily, calling it “premature”.”Now we rule nothing out, but we’re not at the stage yet (of sending troops)… because we have a strategy that we implement now,” Blair said, although he added that Western nations had a “moral responsibility” to take action.More than a year of fighting in Sudan’s western Darfur region has killed some 10 000 people and left more than a million homeless.The violence started when rebel groups rose up in February 2003, prompting a brutal crackdown by Sudanese forces and affiliated Arab militias.UN officials say the latter, known as Janjaweed militias, have carried out a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against black Africans.Rights groups have spoken of systematic rape being inflicted.- Nampa-AFP