UN wants 'proof' of progress
2008-11-13 10:23
New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the Sudanese president's call for a ceasefire in Darfur, saying the world expects "concrete progress," his office said.
Ban "welcomes President Omar al-Beshir's declaration of an immediate ceasefire between the government of Sudan and the armed movements in Darfur as well as the intention by the government of Sudan to disarm all the militias," his spokesperson said.
"The Secretary-General stresses that the effectiveness of any ceasefire depends upon all parties demonstrating their commitment to a cessation of hostilities, particularly since past efforts to uphold a ceasefire in Darfur were not successful," she added.
"He further emphasises that the international community continues to have high expectations that the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements will make concrete progress towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
Beshir on Wednesday called an immediate ceasefire in Darfur, where UN figures show 300 000 people have been killed in a raging civil war since 2003. Khartoum says 10 000 people have died.
The main rebel movemment in the region, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), dismissed Beshir's call as a propaganda stunt for the West.
- AFP