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U.N. Council Extends Troops’ Presence in Darfur U.N. Council Extends Troops’ Presence in Darfur
(about 1 hour later)
UNITED NATIONS — United Nations peacekeepers will remain in the Darfur region of Sudan for at least another year, the Security Council decided in a unanimous vote on Monday.UNITED NATIONS — United Nations peacekeepers will remain in the Darfur region of Sudan for at least another year, the Security Council decided in a unanimous vote on Monday.
Yet whether the beleaguered blue-helmeted forces would be better able to protect civilians, as their mandate requires, remained unclear. Yet whether the beleaguered blue-helmeted forces will be better able to protect civilians, as their mandate requires, remains unclear.
The Council also did not reach consensus on how to help the International Criminal Court gain custody of Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, charged with genocide and crimes against humanity. The Council also did not reach consensus on how to help the International Criminal Court gain custody of Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity.
Mr. Bashir has eluded arrest since the court indicted him in 2008. Thumbing his nose at the court’s authority, he most recently popped into South Africa for an African Union summit meeting — only to depart hastily after a South African court sought to block his exit.Mr. Bashir has eluded arrest since the court indicted him in 2008. Thumbing his nose at the court’s authority, he most recently popped into South Africa for an African Union summit meeting — only to depart hastily after a South African court sought to block his exit.
The I.C.C.’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has repeatedly pressed the Security Council to urge governments around the world to ensure his arrest — with no luck so far. Ten times, she sharply told the council on Monday, the court had made it clear that Sudan had failed to comply with its warrants and the council took no action. The I.C.C.’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has repeatedly pressed the Security Council to urge governments around the world to ensure his arrest — with no luck so far. Ten times, she sharply told the Council on Monday, the court has made it clear that Sudan has failed to comply with its warrants, and the Council has taken no action.
“The people alleged to be most responsible for these ongoing atrocities are the same people against whom warrants of arrest have already been issued,” she said. Sudan’s envoy, Hassan Hamid Hassan, accused the prosecutor of trying to “incite the Security Council against his government.” “The people alleged to be most responsible for these ongoing atrocities are the same people against whom warrants of arrest have already been issued,” she said. Sudan’s envoy, Hassan Hamid Hassan, accused the prosecutor of trying to “incite the Security Council” against his government.
Sudan had pressed for United Nations troops to begin pulling out of Darfur, and the Bashir government has repeatedly put up obstacles as to where and how they can operate.Sudan had pressed for United Nations troops to begin pulling out of Darfur, and the Bashir government has repeatedly put up obstacles as to where and how they can operate.
Still, United Nations peacekeeping officials told the council that any drawdown in their numbers would be premature, until certain benchmarks are met, like improved security and progress in peace talks. Instead, they said, there has been an upsurge in violence, with indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Still, United Nations peacekeeping officials told the Council that any drawdown in their numbers would be premature, until certain benchmarks are met, like improved security and progress in peace talks. Instead, they said, there has been a surge in violence, with indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
The British ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, told reporters after the vote: “Now is not the time to cut and run.” The British ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, told reporters after the vote, “Now is not the time to cut and run.”
There are 15,000 peacekeepers in Darfur. United Nations officials say Mr. Bashir has succeeded in restricting their movements, so much so that they have been unable to investigate reports of a mass rape late last year in a town called Tabit.There are 15,000 peacekeepers in Darfur. United Nations officials say Mr. Bashir has succeeded in restricting their movements, so much so that they have been unable to investigate reports of a mass rape late last year in a town called Tabit.