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Sudan accepts UN 'help' in Darfur Sudan accepts UN 'help' in Darfur
(40 minutes later)
Sudan's president has said he welcomes the United Nations' support for the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, following reports of a deal. Sudan says it welcomes the United Nations' support for the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur but denies the UN will take command.
However, Omar al-Bashir did not mention the agreement reportedly reached to set up a hybrid UN-AU force. Sudan has always rejected plans to replace the AU force with a larger, stronger UN mission.
Sudan has always rejected plans to replace the AU force with a larger, stronger UN mission. It remains unclear who would command the new force. On Thursday, UN chief Kofi Annan had said a compromise had been reached for a planned hybrid UN-AU force, to break the deadlock over Darfur mission.
More than 200,000 people have died in three years of conflict in Darfur. More than 200,000 people have died in three years of conflict in the region.
About three million have fled their homes.About three million have fled their homes.
On Thursday, UN chief Kofi Annan said an agreement had been reached in principle. President Omar al-Bashir told state TV: "The government of Sudan welcomes all financial, material, logistic or technical assistance from the UN in order to strengthen the AU mission in Darfur."
But the Sudanese government has not commented on the details of the proposed compromise reached in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. href="/1/hi/world/africa/6157686.stm" class="">Chad in anti-Sudan alliance His Foreign Minister Lam Akol specified that "there should be no talk about a mixed force".
href="/1/hi/world/africa/6157686.stm" class="">Chad in anti-Sudan alliance BBC East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says the UN is still insisting that it takes command and control of the peacekeeping mission. BBC East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says the UN is still insisting that it take command and control of the peacekeeping mission.
Mr Bashir, however, stressed the UN's "assistance... to the AU mission".
"The government of Sudan welcomes all financial, material, logistic or technical assistance from the UN in order to strengthen the AU mission in Darfur," he told state TV.
"We reiterate our commitment to fully co-operate with the AU, the UN and the international community to implement the Darfur peace agreement."
Violence has intensified despite a peace deal in May between the government and one of the Darfur rebel groups.Violence has intensified despite a peace deal in May between the government and one of the Darfur rebel groups.
Meanwhile, Sudanese Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein said Darfur would become an "invaders' graveyard" if a UN peacekeeping force was sent there.Meanwhile, Sudanese Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein said Darfur would become an "invaders' graveyard" if a UN peacekeeping force was sent there.
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland has cut short his trip to Darfur after Sudan's government told him it would be too dangerous for him to travel outside the region's major towns.UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland has cut short his trip to Darfur after Sudan's government told him it would be too dangerous for him to travel outside the region's major towns.
Violence spreadsViolence spreads
A further possible area of disagreement on the peacekeeping mission is the size of the new force.A further possible area of disagreement on the peacekeeping mission is the size of the new force.
The UN also wants a force of 17,000 troops, while Sudan says 12,000 would be enough.The UN also wants a force of 17,000 troops, while Sudan says 12,000 would be enough.
The conflict has killed or displaced hundreds of thousands of peopleThere are currently some 7,000 AU troops in Darfur.The conflict has killed or displaced hundreds of thousands of peopleThere are currently some 7,000 AU troops in Darfur.
Sudan has always said that the problems in Darfur are being exaggerated for political reasons.Sudan has always said that the problems in Darfur are being exaggerated for political reasons.
It denies backing the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of genocide against Darfur's black African population.It denies backing the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of genocide against Darfur's black African population.
Sudan says the militias are being disarmed but reports from Darfur say the army is working with the Janjaweed to destroy villages.Sudan says the militias are being disarmed but reports from Darfur say the army is working with the Janjaweed to destroy villages.
Two of Sudan's neighbours, Chad and the Central African Republic, have accused Sudan of backing rebels in their countries.Two of Sudan's neighbours, Chad and the Central African Republic, have accused Sudan of backing rebels in their countries.
Chad says it is sending troops to help CAR.Chad says it is sending troops to help CAR.