UN Council condemns “murderous attack” in Darfur
UN: The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned the
“murderous attack” on African Union peacekeepers in Darfur amid sharp
words over the identity of the perpetrators and how to punish them.
The policy statement, read at a formal meeting, demanded that “no
effort be spared” to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of
the attack “reportedly committed by a rebel group.” The statement was
read by Ghanaian Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian, the current council
president.
The 15-nation body’s formal response to the weekend attacks that
resulted in the death of 10 peacekeepers had been delayed because of a
dispute over naming the culprits. Another 10 soldiers were wounded and
three are still missing.
After the statement was adopted, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly
Churkin told reporters it was not as strong as he would have liked
because “there were some members of the Security Council for whom it’s
very difficult somehow to point a finger at rebel groups.”
“We wish it were stronger but we have to live with what was
practically possible,” Churkin said. Unlike a resolution, all 15 council
members must agree to a statement. Other members of the council said one
could not be more definitive about the attackers until the African
Union, which has 7,000 troops in Darfur, completed its investigation.
Sudan has blamed the raid on breakaway factions of the rebel Justice
and Equality Movement or the Sudan Liberation Army’s Unity faction.
Leaders from both groups have condemned the attack at the Haskanita base
in South Darfur on Saturday and denied responsibility.
The Security Council deplored the fact that the attack took place
only weeks before a new round of Darfur peace talks scheduled for
October 27 in Tripoli, Libya. It said that “any attempt to undermine the
peace process is unacceptable.”
Sudan’s U.N. ambassador Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad told
reporters sanctions would have to be lodged against the rebels, which
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has also suggested.
Mohamad said the rebels had to be taught a lesson as one of their
objectives was “to reserve a seat on the train of peace” in the Tripoli
talks. But “they are just criminals.”
In Khartoum, Sudanese Justice Minister Ali al-Mardi told Reuters the
United States and the European Union should have punished the rebel
groups that have refused to sign peace deals with the government to end
the four-year conflict.
United Nations, Wednesdy, Reuter |