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'Hybrid force' planned for Darfur Annan presents Darfur force plan
(about 2 hours later)
A package of measures, including an enhanced peacekeeping force, aimed at solving the Darfur crisis are to be discussed at UN-led talks in Ethiopia. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has opened a conference on the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region with a new plan for the peacekeeping force there.
Plans for a hybrid African Union (AU)-UN force are among proposals being considered after Sudan refused to allow a UN force to replace AU troops there. The plan envisages strengthening African Union peacekeepers, leading to a hybrid force with UN troops, whose deployment Sudan has up to now refused.
Diplomats say Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has indicated in private that he might accept the proposals. Analysts say it is unclear if Sudan will accept the plan, being discussed at the conference in Ethiopia.
UN chief Kofi Annan will open the talks at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. More than 200,000 people have died in three years of conflict in Darfur.
Officials from Africa, Europe, China, the United States and Russia will examine the plans. Unwavering
The meeting marks the point at which the UN must admit it has failed to persuade the Sudanese government to accept a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, says the BBC's Adam Mynott in the Ethiopian capital. The BBC's Adam Mynott in Addis Ababa, where the conference is taking place, says the meeting followed acceptance by the UN that Sudan was not going to allow the replacement of African Union (AU) peacekeepers by a UN body.
No objection
Months of very intense diplomatic pressure have failed to shift the Sudanese government's position.
Mr Bashir is resolute that he will not allow a UN force into the troubled western state.
UN'S THREE-STEP DARFUR PLAN 1) AU $21m support package2) Deploy several hundred soldiers and police3) Hybrid force with substantial UN command and control Q&A: Darfur peacekeepingUN'S THREE-STEP DARFUR PLAN 1) AU $21m support package2) Deploy several hundred soldiers and police3) Hybrid force with substantial UN command and control Q&A: Darfur peacekeeping
But he does not object to the AU forces being strengthened. Mr Annan wants firstly to reinforce the existing AU contingent, which has been under-resourced and ineffective, by supplying extra money, troops and equipment.
Mr Annan has called together all the key players to look at new proposals.
Words like pragmatism, flexibility and expedience are now being used and the UN has come up with a three-stage, phased approach to be discussed at the meeting, our correspondent says.
Firstly, the UN will provide the AU with a $21m support package, which is already under way.
Then the UN would deploy several hundred soldiers and police officers to help the 7,000 AU troops in Sudan.Then the UN would deploy several hundred soldiers and police officers to help the 7,000 AU troops in Sudan.
The third step is an AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force.The third step is an AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force.
African troops would get UN logistical support and there would be substantial UN involvement in the command and control of the peacekeepers.African troops would get UN logistical support and there would be substantial UN involvement in the command and control of the peacekeepers.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says what is being suggested is a special representative to lead the joint force appointed by the UN and the AU. The Sudanese government's opposition to a United Nations presence of any description in Darfur has so far been unwavering.
But diplomats say Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has indicated in private that he might accept the proposals.
He does not object to the AU forces being strengthened.
Escalating violenceEscalating violence
Sudan's government says the scale of the problems in Darfur are being exaggerated for political reasons. Sudan's government says the scale of the problems in Darfur is being exaggerated for political reasons.
Some 2m people have fled their homes in Darfur President Bashir is not opposed to the AU forces being strengthened
It claims it is disarming Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, who have been accused of carrying out genocide on its behalf.It claims it is disarming Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, who have been accused of carrying out genocide on its behalf.
But Sudanese troops and rebel movements have intensified fighting recently, adding to the death toll of over 200,000 people in the past three-and-a-half years. But Sudanese troops and rebel movements have intensified fighting recently.
Two million people have been driven from their homes into camps where they face the constant threat of violent death, rape, hunger and degradation.Two million people have been driven from their homes into camps where they face the constant threat of violent death, rape, hunger and degradation.
Neighbouring Chad has declared a state of emergency after the violence in Darfur spilled over the border.Neighbouring Chad has declared a state of emergency after the violence in Darfur spilled over the border.
The UN secretary general has said that the UN is considering stationing observers on Chad's border.The UN secretary general has said that the UN is considering stationing observers on Chad's border.
"We are looking at the possibility of putting UN observers or some sort of international presence on the border and working with Chad's government to ensure refugees there are protected and cross-border attacks are minimised," Mr Annan said ahead of the meeting."We are looking at the possibility of putting UN observers or some sort of international presence on the border and working with Chad's government to ensure refugees there are protected and cross-border attacks are minimised," Mr Annan said ahead of the meeting.
On Wednesday, Chad's ambassador to Ethiopia accused Sudan of planning to destabilise the entire central African sub region and called for the AU to intervene and condemn Sudan.On Wednesday, Chad's ambassador to Ethiopia accused Sudan of planning to destabilise the entire central African sub region and called for the AU to intervene and condemn Sudan.