Sudan Accepts Plan For UN-AU Peacekeeping Force in Darfur

Sudan's government has accepted a plan for a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur region. A joint statement from Sudan, the AU and the U.N. Tuesday said Sudan accepted the proposals on the so-called "hybrid operation," after getting explanations and clarifications from the two international bodies.

The statement also says Sudan, the U.N., and the AU agree on the need for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire in Darfur along with an inclusive political process.

Sudan had previously rejected efforts to place U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur.

A rebellion in 2003 set off violence that the U.N. estimates has killed at least 200,000 people in the region and displaced more than two million others from their homes.

Sudanese, U.N. and AU officials have been discussing the peacekeeping proposal for the past two days at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The Associated Press reports the new plan would put between 17,000 and 19,000 troops in Darfur. The A.U. currently has a force of about 7,000 in the region that have been ineffective in stopping the violence.

Human rights groups accuse government-backed militias of carrying out brutal acts of murder and rape in Darfur villages. Some Western nations, including the United States, have called the situation "genocide."

Sudan denies backing the militias and disputes U.N. estimates of the death toll.

Source: voanews.com - Tuesday, June 12, 2007

^* Image : darfurcenter.ch

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