Sudan prepares for war

2004-08-02 10:01

Khartoum - Sudan's army has called the United Nations resolution giving it 30 days to resolve its Darfur crisis "a declaration of war" and warned it will fight any foreign troops sent into the western region, a report said on Monday.

"The Security Council resolution about the Darfur issue is a declaration of war on the Sudan and its people," armed forces spokesperson General Mohamed Beshir Suleiman told the official Al Anbaa daily.

"The Sudanese army is now prepared to confront the enemies of the Sudan on land, sea and air," he said.

Suleiman claimed the 30-day deadline set in Friday's UN resolution was "a preparatory period" for war against Sudan and that his country was "being targeted by foreign powers."

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail said on Sunday the government regretted the resolution, although officials had said it would reluctantly be accepted.

Growing international pressure

The resolution warns Sudan of international measures if it fails to heed demands to rein in Arab Janjaweed militias and allow aid into Darfur.

Khartoum has been under growing international pressure to rein in its forces and its militia allies who are accused of mass killing, rape and other atrocities during a 17-month-long revolt in Darfur.

Up to 50 000 people are reported dead and more than a million have fled their homes, 200 000 of them seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad.

- AFP