US praises AU Sudan probe

2005-10-05 12:54

Washington - The United States on Tuesday praised a decision by the African Union to launch an investigation into recent violent attacks in the Darfur region of Sudan and renewed its support for the peace talks between the Khartoum government and rebel fighters.

"The United States condemns violence in Darfur," State Department's spokesperson Sean McCormack said at a press briefing.

McCormack said Washington supports a move by the African Union to hold an emergency meeting in Addis Ababa on Wednesday to consider measures on how to avoid further deterioration of the security situation, after deadly raids last week on a camp in western Darfur left dozens of people dead.

"We have informed the African Union leadership of our unequivocal support for their efforts and to encourage the participants at the Peace and Security Council meeting on Wednesday to send a clear message to all parties to stop the violence," the US spokesperson said.

Deadly raids

Over the past year, negotiating teams from the Khartoum government and two rebel movements fighting on behalf of minority tribes living in the western region of Darfur have been meeting off-and-on in the Nigerian capital under the auspices of the African Union.

The raids on encampments in western Darfur - carried out last week by hundreds of Arab militiamen - left at least 44 people dead.

"The United States welcomes the African Union's prompt investigation and forceful and candid condemnation of violence in Darfur," McCormack told reporters.

While the United States "strongly condemns" acts of violence perpetrated by all sides in the conflict, Washington had particular words of condemnation for the Khartoum government, after the Sudanese Army was implicated in the raids which displaced hundreds of people and drew international condemnation.

McCormack called on Khartoum to withdraw its support from the Janjaweed - the mounted Arab militiamen deployed by the government against the rebels - which has been accused of carrying out unprovoked attacks on civilians.

"We expect the Sudanese government to immediately halt attacks and to stop the Janjaweed from perpetrating violence," McCormack said.

The spokesperson added: "We call on all parties to abstain from violence. It is the responsibility of the Sudanese government to protect its people. And we call upon them to do just that.

"Part of that responsibility is seeing that these groups - including the Janjaweed - do not commit acts of violence against the Sudanese people," said McCormack.

The 30-month-old civil war in Sudan has left 300 000 dead.

On Monday, the government and rebels entered the first full plenary session of the latest round of talks, with both sides expressing optimism that, despite the recent violence, they will be able to negotiate a broad political settlement on the divisive issues of power and wealth between Darfur and the central government.

- AFP