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AU hails Darfur peace deal
28/06/2006 13:12 - (SA)
Addis Ababa - The African Union responded on Tuesday to criticisms by the United States-based International Crisis Group (ICG) of the Darfur peace agreement, saying the deal would bring a lasting solution to the crisis in the western Sudan region.
In a report last week, the ICG criticised the agreement for "serious flaws" and because two of the three rebel groups didn't sign it.
The group said that if the peace agreement "is not to leave Darfur more fragmented and conflict-prone than before, the international community must rapidly take practical measures to shore up its security provisions".
AU expresses regret
The ICG also called for the rapid deployment of a "robust UN peacekeeping force".
However, the AU expressed "regret" at what it called "the misrepresentation" and "serious errors of fact and interpretation" in the ICG report.
The AU argued that the provisions to ensure implementation of the deal between the Sudanese government and the main rebel group were adequate and would be monitored closely by the AU and the international community.
The rebels had complained of political and economic marginalisation by the Sudan government, sparking the Darfur rebellion.
Sudan was charged with arming Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, to crush the rebellion. The ensuing scorched-earth campaign of rape and murder killed tens of thousands and displaced at least two million.
- SAPA
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