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Sudan warning as key summit opens Darfur dominating Africa summit
(about 1 hour later)
An African Union (AU) summit is opening in Ethiopia amid warnings by aid agencies that their operations in Darfur are on the brink of collapse. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called for the urgent deployment of a joint force to halt violence in Sudan's Darfur region.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who is at the summit, says he will press Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to allow UN peacekeepers into the war-torn region. He told heads of state at the African Union summit in Ethiopia that they must work with the world body to end the deadlock over agreeing a UN-AU force.
Mr Bashir is also due to assume the AU chairmanship - but human rights groups say that would be an outrage. The UN chief is to meet Sudan President Omar al-Bashir shortly for talks on the issue which he has made a priority.
The instability in Somalia is also likely to be a prominent issue. Mr Bashir, who opposes UN peacekeepers, is due to take over the chairmanship of the AU in a move causing controversy.
Ethiopia itself played a major role in ousting the Islamist forces that had taken control of much of southern Somalia and supports the official interim government. Mr Bashir was due to take over last year but withdrew because of the Darfur crisis.
Ethiopia says it will begin cutting its force levels in Somalia, making a proposed AU peacekeeping force for Somalia an even more pressing issue, says the BBC's Amber Henshaw in Addis Ababa, where the summit is being held. "Together we must work to end the violence and scorched-earth policies adopted by various parties, including militias, as well as the bombings which are still a terrifying feature of life in Darfur," Mr Ban said.
On Sunday, at least two people were killed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, during an hour-long gunbattle between the police force and a local militia.
Action callAction call
On the eve of the AU summit, the six biggest aid agencies working in Darfur warned that the humanitarian operation there is on the verge of total breakdown.On the eve of the AU summit, the six biggest aid agencies working in Darfur warned that the humanitarian operation there is on the verge of total breakdown.
AU to tackle tough agenda Profile: African Union "Enormous humanitarian response in Darfur will soon be paralysed unless African and global leaders at the AU Summit take urgent action to end rising violence against civilians and aid workers," they said in a joint statement. AU to tackle tough agenda Profile: African Union The "enormous humanitarian response in Darfur will soon be paralysed unless African and global leaders at the AU summit take urgent action to end rising violence against civilians and aid workers," they said in a joint statement.
The agencies - Action Against Hunger, Care International, Oxfam International, Norwegian Refugee Council, World Vision and Save the Children - said the conflict was now worse than ever, with aid workers being increasingly targeted as they sought to help threatened Darfuris.The agencies - Action Against Hunger, Care International, Oxfam International, Norwegian Refugee Council, World Vision and Save the Children - said the conflict was now worse than ever, with aid workers being increasingly targeted as they sought to help threatened Darfuris.
Mr Ban says he wants concrete commitments that Sudan will open the door to peacekeeping forces in Darfur.Mr Ban says he wants concrete commitments that Sudan will open the door to peacekeeping forces in Darfur.
Mr Bashir has agreed in principle to a joint UN-AU force, to replace the current overstretched AU troops.Mr Bashir has agreed in principle to a joint UN-AU force, to replace the current overstretched AU troops.
But no formal deal has been reached. Mr Ban says he will seek "a firm commitment to action". The UN wants to insert 22,000 soldiers. But there is no agreement on how many soldiers would be sent or who would lead the mission.
Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur, between rebels and government-backed militias, has killed some 200,000 people, and forced more than two million people to flee their homes. Mr Ban says he will seek "a firm commitment to action". The UN wants to insert 22,000 soldiers.
Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur, between rebels and pro-government militias, has killed some 200,000 people, and forced more than two million people to flee their homes.
DeadlockDeadlock
Amnesty International said Sudan's assumption of the AU chairmanship, while the AU was trying to mediate in Darfur, would be "a glaring conflict of interest", and would damage the organisation's credibility. Lobby group Amnesty International said Sudan's assumption of the AU chairmanship, while the AU was trying to mediate in Darfur, would be "a glaring conflict of interest", and would damage the organisation's credibility.
Sudan was lined up to take the chair at last year's summit, but was passed over because of international pressure over its role in Darfur.Sudan was lined up to take the chair at last year's summit, but was passed over because of international pressure over its role in Darfur.
It was promised it would be given the chair in 2007, but correspondents say a diplomatic deadlock is again in the offing.It was promised it would be given the chair in 2007, but correspondents say a diplomatic deadlock is again in the offing.
Chad, which borders Darfur, says it will leave the AU if Sudan takes over, while one of the Darfuri rebel group said it would consider AU peacekeepers as enemies.Chad, which borders Darfur, says it will leave the AU if Sudan takes over, while one of the Darfuri rebel group said it would consider AU peacekeepers as enemies.
Officially, the AU agenda on Monday will be headed by climate change and scientific development, but the BBC's East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says it is the other matters which are concentrating minds. Instability in Somalia is also likely to be a prominent issue at the summit.
Ethiopia itself played a major role in ousting the Islamist forces that had taken control of much of southern Somalia and supports the interim government.
Ethiopia says it will begin cutting its force levels in Somalia, making a proposed AU peacekeeping force for Somalia an even more pressing issue, correspondents say.
On Sunday, at least two people were killed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, during an hour-long gunbattle between the police force and a local militia.
Officially, the AU agenda on Monday will be headed by climate change and scientific development, but BBC East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says it is the other matters which are concentrating minds.