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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UN urges Sudanese rethink on aid | UN urges Sudanese rethink on aid |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The United Nations Security Council has called on Sudan to reconsider its decision to expel foreign aid agencies from the troubled Darfur region. | The United Nations Security Council has called on Sudan to reconsider its decision to expel foreign aid agencies from the troubled Darfur region. |
| Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir gave the order after an international arrest warrant was issued against him. | Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir gave the order after an international arrest warrant was issued against him. |
| Correspondents say the council's move is significant as they had previously been unable to agree on a statement. | Correspondents say the council's move is significant as they had previously been unable to agree on a statement. |
| Sudan has said the humanitarian situation is under control and its decision is irreversible. | Sudan has said the humanitarian situation is under control and its decision is irreversible. |
| The current president of the council, Libyan ambassador Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgam, read out a non-binding statement agreed by all 15 members. | The current president of the council, Libyan ambassador Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgam, read out a non-binding statement agreed by all 15 members. |
| It said the members "stressed the importance of continuing the distribution of humanitarian assistance to all the needy in Darfur". | It said the members "stressed the importance of continuing the distribution of humanitarian assistance to all the needy in Darfur". |
| Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict | Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict |
| The statement also called on Sudan to continue co-operating with the UN and to "reconsider the decision on suspending the activities of some non-government organisations in Sudan". | The statement also called on Sudan to continue co-operating with the UN and to "reconsider the decision on suspending the activities of some non-government organisations in Sudan". |
| Sudan's ambassador to the UN, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed, said the humanitarian situation was "very much under control" and that Khartoum's decision was "irreversible". | Sudan's ambassador to the UN, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed, said the humanitarian situation was "very much under control" and that Khartoum's decision was "irreversible". |
| The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir in early March, on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes - the first such warrant for a serving president. | The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir in early March, on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes - the first such warrant for a serving president. |
| Mr Bashir is accused of orchestrating atrocities against civilians in Darfur, where his government has been battling rebels since 2003. | Mr Bashir is accused of orchestrating atrocities against civilians in Darfur, where his government has been battling rebels since 2003. |
| Hunger risk | Hunger risk |
| According to the UN, up to 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict and 2.7 million driven from their homes. | According to the UN, up to 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict and 2.7 million driven from their homes. |
| Mr Bashir accused aid agencies of spying for the ICC | Mr Bashir accused aid agencies of spying for the ICC |
| But Khartoum dismissed the ICC case as "a neo-colonialist plot" designed to destabilise the country and says the UN's figures are exaggerated. | But Khartoum dismissed the ICC case as "a neo-colonialist plot" designed to destabilise the country and says the UN's figures are exaggerated. |
| Hours after the court's announcement, Mr Bashir ordered aid agencies to leave, saying some organisations were using aid as a cover to achieve a political agenda. | Hours after the court's announcement, Mr Bashir ordered aid agencies to leave, saying some organisations were using aid as a cover to achieve a political agenda. |
| In all, 13 agencies, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres, have been ordered to halt their operations in Darfur. | |
| A joint Sudanese-UN study has said more than a million people in Darfur will go without food rations by May unless new aid agencies are deployed. | A joint Sudanese-UN study has said more than a million people in Darfur will go without food rations by May unless new aid agencies are deployed. |
| The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says the council failed to reach agreement on a statement three weeks ago, following concerns expressed by China, an key ally and trading partner of Khartoum. | The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says the council failed to reach agreement on a statement three weeks ago, following concerns expressed by China, an key ally and trading partner of Khartoum. |
| But it remains unclear what the council will do if President Bashir does not change his mind, says our correspondent. | But it remains unclear what the council will do if President Bashir does not change his mind, says our correspondent. |