Sudan warms to Darfur force plan

Adjust font size:

(CNN) -- Sudan has agreed "in principle" to a plan that would allow U.N. peacekeepers to be stationed in the country's war-torn region of Darfur, and America's top diplomat hailed the development on Friday.

Sudan, which opposed a U.N. peacekeeping force to quell the bloodshed in Darfur, is supporting a "hybrid operation" consisting of U.N. peacekeepers and African Union troops that will have a "predominantly African character," according to the United Nations.

The country's diplomats had been negotiating the peacekeeping issue with the United Nations, African Union and other envoys in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. A communique was issued on the plan Thursday.

"I think they've put together a good proposal," said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking to reporters in Vietnam, where she is attending the APEC summit with President George W. Bush.

"I think now that there is a proposal that has the backing really of all interested parties. It will, it's my understanding, soon be introduced to the Sudanese government," Rice said.

Darfur is one of the world's most notorious war zones. At least 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in brutal fighting between "government forces, allied militias and rebels seeking greater autonomy." The fighting has displaced more than 2 million other people, the United Nations said.

The attacks by militias who support the Arab government against blacks in Darfur have been characterized as a genocide.

In late August, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1706, which expands the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan to include its deployment to Darfur.

It decided that the force "be strengthened by up to 17,300 military personnel and by an appropriate civilian component including up to 3,300."

United Nations since has been working to get Sudan's approval for the force. The overstretched and underfunded African Union (AU) force has been unable to end bloodshed in the huge Sudanese region.

"A hybrid operation is also agreed in principle, pending clarification of the size of the force The peacekeeping force will have a predominantly African character Backstopping and command and control structures will be provided by the U.N," according to the communique issued by the United Nations after meetings in Ethiopia.

"The strength of the peacekeeping force should be 17,000 and 3,000 police. However, the government of Sudan representative indicated that he would need to consult with his government on this figure. The peacekeeping force must enjoy free and unhindered movement in Darfur," the communique said.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the chair of the AU Commission, who co-chaired the meeting, urged the sides to "immediately commit to a cessation of hostilities."

They also urged the Sudanese government and rebel groups that did not sign the May peace agreement to meet.

"It's my hope now that the Sudanese government will accept this proposal, because the situation in Sudan is not improving and in fact it has the danger of getting much worse, and so it's good that there's a fresh proposal that can go forward," Rice said.

Tools:
Save |
Print |
E-mail |
Most Popular |

Next story in World

World

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

African Union chairman Alpha Konare, left, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan speak to reporters late Thursday.

SPECIAL REPORT

ï¿½ï¿½Gallery:ï¿½Humanitarian crisis
ï¿½ï¿½Map:ï¿½Sudan's Darfur region
ï¿½ï¿½Behind the scenes:ï¿½Amanpour
ï¿½ï¿½Related sites:ï¿½How to help
ï¿½ï¿½An aid worker's diary
ï¿½ï¿½Special:ï¿½Crisis in Sudan

Sudan warms to Darfur force plan

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

SPECIAL REPORT