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UN, Sudan to discuss Darfur plan UN talks Darfur detail with Sudan
(about 7 hours later)
The UN Security Council envoys are due to hold talks in Sudan with President Omar al-Bashir on the deployment of almost 20,000 peacekeepers in Darfur. UN Security Council envoys have begun talks in Sudan aimed at clarifying President Omar al-Bashir's stance on plans for a Darfur peacekeeping force.
Sudan this week agreed to allow a mixed force of UN and African Union (AU) troops into the troubled Darfur region. Sudan this week agreed to allow a mixed force of 19,000 UN and African Union troops but ultimate control over the force has been a sticking-point.
Diplomats want to agree the details of the deployment to make sure there are no further delays, the BBC's UN correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, says. Sudan's foreign minister is reported to have accepted UN command after talks with the envoys.
The delegation is meeting Mr Bashir later in the day.
Violence in Darfur has killed more than 200,000 people and made 2.5m refugees.Violence in Darfur has killed more than 200,000 people and made 2.5m refugees.
An existing AU force of 7,000 troops has struggled to contain the conflict.An existing AU force of 7,000 troops has struggled to contain the conflict.
Much of the violence has been linked to clashes between government-sponsored Janjaweed militias and Darfur's rebel groups.Much of the violence has been linked to clashes between government-sponsored Janjaweed militias and Darfur's rebel groups.
Sanctions threat 'Very, very clear'
On Tuesday, Sudan agreed to a revised plan for a joint contingent of UN and AU troops, numbering between 17,000 and 19,000 soldiers, policing Darfur. Foreign Minister Lam Akol said that command and control was "a UN process", South African envoy Dumisani Kumalo was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency after the talks. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6213202.stm">Mapping the crisis
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6213202.stm">Mapping the crisis "He made that very, very clear," the envoy added.
The new plan envisages the UN taking overall control of the peacekeeping mission, with AU troops performing much of the day-to-day work. Reuters also quoted British envoy Emyr Jones Parry as saying the minister had given "unequivocal assurances" that the agreement proposed by the African Union (AU) and UN had been "accepted without condition".
The joint contingent policing Darfur will number between 17,000 and 19,000 soldiers.
Plans envisage the UN taking overall control of the peacekeeping mission, with AU troops performing much of the day-to-day work.
Similar agreements made in the past have faltered because of opposition from Khartoum.Similar agreements made in the past have faltered because of opposition from Khartoum.
According to our correspondent, Western diplomats want Sudan to give an exact timetable for the deployment of the peacekeeping force.
They also want to establish whether Mr Bashir accepts that the UN will retain overall control of the mission, while an African commander handles routine work.
The US and UK have warned that Sudan could face UN Security Council sanctions if it continues to resist the deployment of peacekeepers.The US and UK have warned that Sudan could face UN Security Council sanctions if it continues to resist the deployment of peacekeepers.
'Climate change' Oxfam leaves
British aid agency Oxfam has meanwhile announced it is withdrawing permanently from Gereida in Darfur.British aid agency Oxfam has meanwhile announced it is withdrawing permanently from Gereida in Darfur.
The agency said it was leaving because of concerns over the safety of its workers.The agency said it was leaving because of concerns over the safety of its workers.
Three aid agency bases in Gereida were attacked by a rebel group in December. One aid worker was beaten, another was raped and several were subjected to mock executions.Three aid agency bases in Gereida were attacked by a rebel group in December. One aid worker was beaten, another was raped and several were subjected to mock executions.
Oxfam said it was withdrawing because no action had been taken to punish the perpetrators of the attacks, stolen assets had not been returned and there were no "credible assurances" that a similar attack would not happen again.Oxfam said it was withdrawing because no action had been taken to punish the perpetrators of the attacks, stolen assets had not been returned and there were no "credible assurances" that a similar attack would not happen again.
The charity has reportedly been providing water, sanitation and healthcare to some 130,000 people in camps outside Gereida town, reports say. The charity has been providing water, sanitation and healthcare to some 130,000 people in camps outside Gereida town, reports say.
Separately, UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon has said climate change is partly to blame for the conflict in Darfur.Separately, UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon has said climate change is partly to blame for the conflict in Darfur.
Declining rainfall, caused in part by climate change, had made arable land scarce and forced a confrontation between rival ethnic groups in Darfur, Mr Ban wrote in an editorial for US daily, The Washington Post.Declining rainfall, caused in part by climate change, had made arable land scarce and forced a confrontation between rival ethnic groups in Darfur, Mr Ban wrote in an editorial for US daily, The Washington Post.