Brown makes Darfur promise
2007-09-16 09:57
London - Britain's Prime Minister Gordon
Brown on Sunday pledged technical support for peacekeepers due to
go to Sudan's Darfur region, but warned Khartoum of possible
further sanctions if it failed to make "necessary changes".
He was speaking in a BBC interview as human rights groups
prepared protests and marches in a "Global Day for Darfur" in
around 30 countries including Britain.
Brown described as "one of the great tragedies of our time"
the 4 1/2-year Darfur conflict, in which international experts
say some 200 000 people have died and 2.5m have been
driven from their homes. Khartoum disputes the figures.
The Sudanese government and Darfur rebels are to hold peace
talks on October 27 in Libya under the auspices of the United
Nations and African Union.
Britain, Sudan's former colonial ruler, says it will not
contribute soldiers to the 26 000-strong joint UN and African
Union peacekeepers in line with Khartoum's demand for a
predominantly African presence in Darfur.
Brown's promise of "technical help" was understood to mean
airlifting African peacekeepers to the region or possibly
supplying equipment to help them operate.
Brown told the BBC a ceasefire and political settlement was
needed.
"If that were to happen, we'd be prepared to give economic
assistance so that the people of Darfur were in a better position
and we can start to rebuild.
"If it doesn't work and we find that the government of Sudan
is not making the changes necessary, then we will have to move to
further sanctions," he said in remarks on the BBC website.
Peacekeepers
Sudan signed a joint statement with the United Nations this
month agreeing to end violence in Darfur, prepare for the peace
talks and help deploy the peacekeepers.
Brown said the peacekeeping force should be deployed this
year, but officials have indicated next year was more likely.
British Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Malloch Brown
said in an interview with the Observer on Sunday that the
peacekeepers expected a fight with groups like the
government-allied Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.
"I'm sure the forces will be tested early on by "janjaweed"
elements who want to humiliate it. But this is an enforcement
force not an observation force. It will be stepping in to protect
civilians who are under attack," said Malloch Brown, who visited
Darfur this month.
Britain and France last month revived the spectre of
sanctions against Khartoum if progress is not made on a Darfur
ceasefire and at the peace talks. The United States has also
threatened wider sanctions.
The UN Security Council has already imposed an arms embargo
on rebels and militia but not on the government.
China is to send more than 300 engineering troops to Darfur
next month to help prepare for the peacekeeping force, but
Beijing has been seen as the main opponent on the UN Security
Council to Western moves for sanctions.