Blair denies Sudan report

2004-12-26 19:14

London - Prime Minister Tony Blair's office on Sunday dismissed a newspaper report that he had ordered the military to prepare 3 000 troops for a possible mission to Sudan's violence-torn Darfur region.

"I don't recognise that story at all," a Blair spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.

"Our position on Sudan has been made clear. Basically, what we are doing is providing whatever help we can to the African Union force and we're working with the African Union and the UN to resolve the situation there," the spokesperson said.

The Independent newspaper, which cited no sources, reported Sunday that Blair had told military bosses to prepare plans that could be implemented if he decides to order British troops to Sudan next year.

The newspaper said military chiefs would discuss in early January the possibility of sending forces as part of a European Union effort.

The African Union has deployed about 900 troops of an expected 4 000-strong force in Darfur.

Nearly two years of bloodshed has ravaged Darfur, where the security situation has recently worsened and humanitarian groups say it is becoming increasingly difficult to aid those in need.

The violence and the resulting humanitarian crisis have killed 70 000 people and driven 1.8 million from their homes.

Fighting began when non-Arab rebel groups took up arms in February 2003 against what they saw as years of state neglect and discrimination against Sudanese of African origin.

The Arab-dominated government responded with a counterinsurgency in which militiamen have committed wide-scale abuses against the African population.

- SAPA