Sudan ‘violating UN resolutions’

NEW YORK – The Sudanese government is flying weapons and other military equipment into Darfur in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, a confidential UN report says.

The government was using planes painted white to make them them look like UN aircraft to bomb and carry out surveillance of villages in the violence-torn western region, said the report by a panel of five experts appointed by the world body. The panel said it had seen one such aircraft, an Antonov AN-26, at an airport in Darfur and that it had the letters “UN” painted on its wing.It had also seen white helicopters operated by Sudan.The report was accompanied by photographs.Sudan has denied the allegations.The report has not so far been issued by the UN but was published on the internet on Wednesday by the New York Times, which said it had received it from a diplomat of a country that wanted it publicised.At least 200 000 people have been killed and 2,5 million made homeless since 2003 in ethnic and political conflict triggered by a rebellion in Darfur.Rebels are fighting government troops and Janjaweed militias.”On the basis of evidence gathered, the panel concludes that the government of the Sudan continues to violate the (UN) arms embargo by transferring equipment and related weapons into Darfur,” the 44-page report said.The UN report also accused rebel groups of violating Security Council resolutions, peace agreements and humanitarian standards, and recommended extending the UN arms embargo from Darfur to the whole of Sudan.Nampa-ReutersThe panel said it had seen one such aircraft, an Antonov AN-26, at an airport in Darfur and that it had the letters “UN” painted on its wing.It had also seen white helicopters operated by Sudan.The report was accompanied by photographs.Sudan has denied the allegations.The report has not so far been issued by the UN but was published on the internet on Wednesday by the New York Times, which said it had received it from a diplomat of a country that wanted it publicised.At least 200 000 people have been killed and 2,5 million made homeless since 2003 in ethnic and political conflict triggered by a rebellion in Darfur.Rebels are fighting government troops and Janjaweed militias.”On the basis of evidence gathered, the panel concludes that the government of the Sudan continues to violate the (UN) arms embargo by transferring equipment and related weapons into Darfur,” the 44-page report said.The UN report also accused rebel groups of violating Security Council resolutions, peace agreements and humanitarian standards, and recommended extending the UN arms embargo from Darfur to the whole of Sudan.Nampa-Reuters