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| AU extends Darfur troops mandate | AU extends Darfur troops mandate |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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 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 decision was announced after a meeting of African heads of state at the United Nations in New York. | The decision was announced after a meeting of African heads of state at the United Nations in New York. |
| It is expected that Sudan will allow the 7,000-strong force to stay on beyond its 30 September deadline. | It is expected that Sudan will allow the 7,000-strong force to stay on beyond its 30 September deadline. |
| More than 200,000 people have died during the three-year rebellion. Over two million people have been displaced. | More than 200,000 people have died during the three-year rebellion. Over two million people have been displaced. |
| The Sudanese government has repeatedly rejected plans to transform the African force into the 22,000-strong UN mission agreed to by the Security Council last month. | The Sudanese government has repeatedly rejected plans to transform the African force into the 22,000-strong UN mission agreed to by the Security Council last month. |
| The UN wants to send a full international peacekeeping operation to end what some governments 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 have called genocide perpetrated by the Sudanese army and its associated militias. |
| If the Sudanese government does not approve the peacekeeping force quickly, the UN must act US President Bush href="/1/hi/world/africa/5365770.stm" class="">Bombs empty Darfur town href="/1/hi/in_pictures/5354266.stm" class="">In pictures: Darfur rallies Send us your views | |
| Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore, who chaired the meeting, announced the AU force would be strengthened by troops from African countries, logistical support from the UN and financial help from the Arab League. | Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore, who chaired the meeting, announced the AU force would be strengthened by troops from African countries, logistical support from the UN and financial help from the Arab League. |
| Mr Campaore also said the AU would strive to improve relations between Sudan and the UN in order to pave the way for an eventual UN takeover of operations in the region. | Mr Campaore also said the AU would strive to improve relations between Sudan and the UN in order to pave the way for an eventual UN takeover of operations in the region. |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge at the UN says Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir was under overwhelming pressure at the summit but it is unclear whether he made any significant concessions. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge at the UN says Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir was under overwhelming pressure at the summit but it is unclear whether he made any significant concessions. |
| Crisis 'exaggerated' | Crisis 'exaggerated' |
| Prior to the meeting, 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". | Prior to the meeting, 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. |
| 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. |
| Refugees from fighting in Darfur tell their storiesIn pictures | Refugees from fighting in Darfur tell their storiesIn pictures |
| A large peacekeeping force is already operating in southern Sudan. | A large peacekeeping force is already operating in southern Sudan. |
| The BBC's world affairs correspondent 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 world affairs correspondent 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 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 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. |
| 'Crime against humanity' | 'Crime against humanity' |
| 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. |
| US President George W 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 W 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. |
| 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. |