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| UN extends Darfur peace mission | UN extends Darfur peace mission |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UN Security Council has renewed the mandate for peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region for another year just two hours before it was due to expire. | |
| The decision had been complicated by the International Criminal Court's move to indict Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged genocide. | The decision had been complicated by the International Criminal Court's move to indict Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged genocide. |
| The resolution notes an African Union request for the Council to postpone the ICC's work but does no more than that. | The resolution notes an African Union request for the Council to postpone the ICC's work but does no more than that. |
| Fourteen of the Council's 15 members voted in favour but the US abstained. | Fourteen of the Council's 15 members voted in favour but the US abstained. |
| The African Union had asked the UN Security Council to use its power to suspend the ICC's proceedings for a year, saying prosecuting Sudan's president would set back peace in Darfur. | The African Union had asked the UN Security Council to use its power to suspend the ICC's proceedings for a year, saying prosecuting Sudan's president would set back peace in Darfur. |
| The United States abstained in the vote, because language added to the resolution would send the wrong signal to the Sudanese president Alejandro WolffUS deputy ambassador to the UN Bashir move bold but problematic | |
| Libya and South Africa, backed by Russia and China, wanted to include this in the resolution on renewing the mandate. | Libya and South Africa, backed by Russia and China, wanted to include this in the resolution on renewing the mandate. |
| But the UK, France, the US and central American countries objected, saying there should be no link between the peacekeeping force and whatever the court might do. | But the UK, France, the US and central American countries objected, saying there should be no link between the peacekeeping force and whatever the court might do. |
| Faced with the prospect that the force might not have its mandate renewed, a compromise was found after much wrangling. | Faced with the prospect that the force might not have its mandate renewed, a compromise was found after much wrangling. |
| The new resolution takes note of the African Union's position without committing the Security Council to doing anything. | The new resolution takes note of the African Union's position without committing the Security Council to doing anything. |
| But the US abstained, saying the revised resolution sent out the wrong message. | |
| "The United States abstained in the vote, because language added to the resolution would send the wrong signal to the Sudanese president, Bashir, and undermine efforts to bring him and others to justice," Alejandro Wolff, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, said. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYTroops should be allowed to co-operate with selected NGOs such as Medecins Sans Frontieres. Jaffe, Krefeld, GermanySend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYTroops should be allowed to co-operate with selected NGOs such as Medecins Sans Frontieres. Jaffe, Krefeld, GermanySend us your comments |
| Sudan's UN Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem told Reuters it was an "acceptable" text. | Sudan's UN Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem told Reuters it was an "acceptable" text. |
| The UN estimates five years of conflict in Darfur have left 300,000 people dead and more than two million homeless. | The UN estimates five years of conflict in Darfur have left 300,000 people dead and more than two million homeless. |
| Aid agency Oxfam says about 1,000 people are being displaced every month in the region. | Aid agency Oxfam says about 1,000 people are being displaced every month in the region. |
| Khartoum says the scale of the violence and suffering has been exaggerated by the West for political reasons. | Khartoum says the scale of the violence and suffering has been exaggerated by the West for political reasons. |
| It denies charges that it organised the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population. | It denies charges that it organised the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population. |
| On Thursday, two courts sentenced 22 Darfur rebels to death for their involvement in a raid on the capital in May, the first time rebels had reached Khartoum. | On Thursday, two courts sentenced 22 Darfur rebels to death for their involvement in a raid on the capital in May, the first time rebels had reached Khartoum. |
| Blue plastic bags | Blue plastic bags |
| Meanwhile, a report has found that the UN-African Union force lacks vital equipment. | Meanwhile, a report has found that the UN-African Union force lacks vital equipment. |
| ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BASHIR Genocide: Killing members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groupsCausing these groups serious bodily or mental harmInflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about these groups' physical destruction Crimes against humanity: MurderExterminationForcible transferRapeTorture War crimes: Attacks on civilians in DarfurPillaging towns and villages UN worker tells of fear in Darfur | |
| Only about a third of the intended 26,000 peacekeepers have so far been deployed on the first anniversary of the decision to deploy troops in the region. | Only about a third of the intended 26,000 peacekeepers have so far been deployed on the first anniversary of the decision to deploy troops in the region. |
| Many do not have the equipment they need, according to a report backed by 36 human rights groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). | Many do not have the equipment they need, according to a report backed by 36 human rights groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). |
| It said some soldiers even have to wear blue plastic bags on their heads because they do not have the standard blue UN helmet. | It said some soldiers even have to wear blue plastic bags on their heads because they do not have the standard blue UN helmet. |
| The report, published by the Save Darfur coalition, says helicopters are vital to the success of the mission but no country has offered a single one of the aircraft. | The report, published by the Save Darfur coalition, says helicopters are vital to the success of the mission but no country has offered a single one of the aircraft. |
| It says military powers like the US, Britain and France are tied down in wars and other peacekeeping operations. | It says military powers like the US, Britain and France are tied down in wars and other peacekeeping operations. |
| But it named the Czech Republic, Italy, Romania, Spain, Ukraine and India, saying they have more than 70 suitable aircraft needed for the mission. | But it named the Czech Republic, Italy, Romania, Spain, Ukraine and India, saying they have more than 70 suitable aircraft needed for the mission. |
| The report says a militia attack three weeks ago on a UN-AU convoy that left seven peacekeepers dead and 19 wounded underscores the critical importance of helicopters. | The report says a militia attack three weeks ago on a UN-AU convoy that left seven peacekeepers dead and 19 wounded underscores the critical importance of helicopters. |