UN to speed up Darfur force
2006-05-16 23:14
United Nations - The United Nations security council has passed a resolution to accelerate planning for a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region.
The resolution, passed unanimously on Tuesday, also threatens "strong and effective measures" - diplomatic language for sanctions - against anyone who stands in the way of a May 5 peace agreement signed by the Sudanese government and Darfur's main rebel group.
In the resolution, the council demanded that an assessment team be deployed to Sudan within a week to prepare for the UN to take control of an African Union-led peacekeeping mission currently in Darfur.
Sudan's government had blocked the team but has recently signalled it would lift its opposition because of the peace deal.
The resolution comes a day after the AU agreed to transfer authority of its 7 300-strong Darfur peacekeeping force to the UN by the end of September - or earlier if the UN is ready.
China, Russia, Qatar sign reluctantly
The AU has demanded that any rebel groups still holding out on the peace deal sign it by May 31.
A splinter faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, as well as the Justice and Equality Movement have resisted pressure to sign.
The security council has asked UN secretary general Kofi Annan to submit recommendations after the assessment team has returned with information on the possible makeup of the new UN force, as well as its projected costs.
China, Russia and Qatar agreed to the resolution reluctantly. They had opposed the fact that it was written under chapter VII of the UN charter, which means it can be enforced with punitive measures and possibly even military force.
They signed on when the AU indicated its support for the resolution and asked them to join the consensus.
- AP