Darfur force 'within 6 months'
2007-06-28 11:37
United Nations - A stepped-up
peacekeeping force to stem violence in Sudan's Darfur region
may take six months to deploy after a resolution is passed at
the UN Security Council, a UN official said on Wednesday.
Earlier in Khartoum, the United Nations said murder, rape
and abductions were on the rise in West Darfur state, noting
with concern that increased violence in the lawless Sudanese
region had driven more people into camps.
British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, who is co-authoring a
resolution mandating the hybrid operation of UN and African
Union peacekeepers, said on Wednesday he expected to finalise the draft this week, and it could come to a vote a week later.
Hedi Annabi, assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping
operations, told reporters after briefing the Security Council
that there would be a troop-contributors meeting on Friday.
He said much groundwork was needed before the force can be
deployed and it was difficult to set a precise timeline.
"We hope that we can start deploying this operation within
six months from the day a resolution and a mandate are adopted
by the Security Council," Annabi said. "It does take time."
Under sustained international pressure, Sudan agreed on
June 12 to a combined United Nations and African Union
peacekeeping force of more than 20 000 troops and police, but many diplomats doubt Khartoum will keep its word.
The force's aim is to stop the violence in Darfur, where
international experts estimate 200 000 people have died and 2.5 million have been expelled from their homes in more than four
years of strife. Sudan says 9 000 people have died.
Sudan has sent mixed signals about the hybrid force, saying
it should be under the AU's command and control rather than the
United Nations', and suggesting it should be mainly African.
Asked about reported comments by Sudanese President Omar
Hassan al-Bashir that the force should not include Western
troops, Annabi said Bashir had assured the Security Council
this month that he accepted the force without conditions.
"What we need to focus on now is implementation and deeds
rather than words," Annabi said. "We should all choose to have
some hearing problems because reacting to this or that
statement might not be helpful," he added.