Sudan doubts over Darfur peacekeeping probe
Sudan insisted that African countries have offered enough troops for a peacekeeping force in Darfur despite UN concerns that the mission will not be effective without contributions from outside the continent.
Foreign ministers and other top diplomats from 26 countries met at the United Nations to promote an agreement on the composition of the 26,000-member peacekeeping force, and give political momentum to October 27 peace talks in Libya between Darfur’s rebels and the Sudanese government.
With one influential rebel leader refusing to attend the negotiations, diplomats warned there would be consequences for any side that decides to boycott.
US Deputy of State John Negroponte raised the possibility of sanctions against rebel leaders who stay out of the peace process.
Sudan agreed to the deployment of the joint UN-African Union force after months of international pressure and painstaking negotiations, which ended with a pledge that the force would be predominantly African.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said so many African countries had offered troops that some may be turned down.
He insisted there was no need to consider troop offers from other countries, such as Thailand and Uruguay. Negroponte urged Sudan to be open to non-African contributions.
