UN embarks on Sudan peace mission

2010-10-06 07:35

Kampala - A United Nations Security Council delegation has arrived in the Ugandan capital, headed to Sudan this week to prevent any obstruction of a January referendum that is expected to split Africa's largest nation in two but could reignite a civil war.

The delegation of Security Council diplomats touched down in Uganda late on Tuesday, accompanied by journalists on their flight.

On Wednesday, they will meet in Entebbe with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose nation holds the presidency of the 15-nation council this month, and tour the major air base servicing UN peacekeeping missions in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

The UN delegation will visit Sudan's western Darfur region, southern Sudan and the capital Khartoum. They plan to skip any contact with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged by the International Criminal Court with war crimes and genocide.

- AP