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Decision for Darfur peacekeepers AU extends Darfur troops mandate
(about 3 hours later)
African Union leaders are meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to decide on the fate of its 7,000-strong Darfur force. The African Union (AU) has decided to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur until the end of the year.
The mandate of the mission expires at the end of the month. It is thought a three-month extension may be agreed, despite their failure to end violence. The decision was announced after a meeting of African heads of state at the United Nations in New York.
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has reiterated his opposition to moves to turn the force into one led by the UN. It is expected that Sudan will allow the 7,000-strong force to stay on beyond its current September deadline.
But said he would let the AU stay on and may accept "non-African" advisers. More than 200,000 people have died during the three-year rebellion. Over two million people have been displaced.
More than two million people have been displaced during the three-year rebellion. The Sudanese government has repeatedly rejected plans to turn the African force into one led by the UN.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution last month calling for the deployment of up to 20,000 UN peacekeepers to replace the 7,000-strong AU force whose mandate expires at the end of the month. The UN Security Council passed a resolution last month calling for the deployment of up to 20,000 UN peacekeepers to replace the AU force.
The UN wants to send a full international peacekeeping operation to end what some governments, including the United States, have called genocide perpetrated by the Sudanese army and its associated militias.The UN wants to send a full international peacekeeping operation to end what some governments, including the United States, have called genocide perpetrated by the Sudanese army and its associated militias.
But President Bashir, who is attending the AU security council meeting, said he "totally rejected" the UN taking over peacekeeping in Darfur, although his government is split with African members from the SPLM and SLA backing the plan. But President Omar al-Bashir, who is attending the AU meeting, said he "totally rejected" the UN taking over peacekeeping in Darfur, although his government is split with African members from the SPLM and SLA backing the plan.
A BBC analyst says the issue is exacerbating old tensions between Sudan's African and Arab populations, that Sudan's peace process was designed to resolve. A BBC analyst says the issue is exacerbating old tensions between Sudan's African and Arab populations that Sudan's peace process was designed to resolve.
WeakWeak
Speaking from the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Mr Bashir said the plan to replace AU troops with a UN force was a "Zionist plot" intended to weaken states in the region "in order to help Israel".Speaking from the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Mr Bashir said the plan to replace AU troops with a UN force was a "Zionist plot" intended to weaken states in the region "in order to help Israel".
He said the move would allow opponents to dismember Sudan and plunder its resources.He said the move would allow opponents to dismember Sudan and plunder its resources.
If the Sudanese government does not approve the peacekeeping force quickly, the U.N. must act. US President Bush In pictures: Darfur rallies Bleak outlook for Darfur Send us your viewsIf the Sudanese government does not approve the peacekeeping force quickly, the U.N. must act. US President Bush In pictures: Darfur rallies Bleak outlook for Darfur Send us your views
He also insisted reports of a humanitarian crisis in Darfur were exaggerated.He also insisted reports of a humanitarian crisis in Darfur were exaggerated.
But much of Darfur is inaccessible to aid agencies and the security situation has deteriorated in recent weeks.But much of Darfur is inaccessible to aid agencies and the security situation has deteriorated in recent weeks.
A recent academic report said the number of additional deaths caused by the three-year conflict in Darfur ran into the hundreds of thousands and not tens of thousands.A recent academic report said the number of additional deaths caused by the three-year conflict in Darfur ran into the hundreds of thousands and not tens of thousands.
A large peacekeeping force is already operating in Southern Sudan.A large peacekeeping force is already operating in Southern Sudan.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says that the key issue is not so much whether the force is a UN one or an AU one, but whether the AU can operate with a tougher mandate allowing them to shoot if things get tough - which is how UN peacekeepers operate.The BBC's Mark Doyle says that the key issue is not so much whether the force is a UN one or an AU one, but whether the AU can operate with a tougher mandate allowing them to shoot if things get tough - which is how UN peacekeepers operate.
He says that if that happened, then the money and management support needed to run a successful operation could be forthcoming and the diplomatic impasse could be resolved.He says that if that happened, then the money and management support needed to run a successful operation could be forthcoming and the diplomatic impasse could be resolved.
It is thought that a three-month extension of the AU troops' mandate may be proposed.
ActionAction
The UN general assembly has already heard forceful calls for action in Darfur.The UN general assembly has already heard forceful calls for action in Darfur.
Refugees from fighting in Darfur tell their storiesIn picturesRefugees from fighting in Darfur tell their storiesIn pictures
US President George Bush said the credibility of the UN was at stake and announced the appointment of a special American envoy, former USAid chief Andrew Natsios, to help in the efforts.US President George Bush said the credibility of the UN was at stake and announced the appointment of a special American envoy, former USAid chief Andrew Natsios, to help in the efforts.
"If the Sudanese government does not approve the peacekeeping force quickly, the UN must act," Mr Bush said.
President Chirac of France warned that a crime against humanity was being prepared in Darfur.President Chirac of France warned that a crime against humanity was being prepared in Darfur.
Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the UN had a duty to protect the helpless and intervene militarily "to restore peace, security and stability to Darfur".Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the UN had a duty to protect the helpless and intervene militarily "to restore peace, security and stability to Darfur".
The UN mission in Sudan has warned that hundreds of thousands of people could be freshly displaced if international peacekeepers leave Darfur.The UN mission in Sudan has warned that hundreds of thousands of people could be freshly displaced if international peacekeepers leave Darfur.
Violence has worsened since a peace deal was reached with one of the three main rebels groups earlier this year and aid workers may pull out of Darfur if the AU peacekeepers leave and are not replaced by a UN force.Violence has worsened since a peace deal was reached with one of the three main rebels groups earlier this year and aid workers may pull out of Darfur if the AU peacekeepers leave and are not replaced by a UN force.