UN envoy probes Sudan atrocities

A UN envoy arrived in Sudan today to examine the government’s efforts to improve security and rein in Arab militia accused of months of atrocities in Darfur, preparing an assessment that could determine whether Sudan will be hit with sanctions.

“This is an objective verification and the UN’s mind has not been made up,” UN deputy humanitarian coordinator Erick De Mul said after flying into the airport at Al-Fasher, capital of North Darfur state.

In an airport room scarred by bullet holes from a series of rebel attacks in April and May 2003, police and military commanders briefed De Mul on security in and immediately around nearby displaced persons camps. He was to visit camps himself later today and tomorrow.

The United Nations says violence has driven about 1.4 million people from their homes to some 147 camps throughout Darfur’s three states, while another 180,000 Darfur refugees have fled into neighbouring Chad.

“We could like to spend as much time as possible with the people who have fled their homes and with the people of the area to check what has been going on and to check out whether the security situation has improved,” De Mul said.

At peace talks in neighbouring Nigeria between the government and the rebels, top government negotiator Majzoub al-Khalifa Ahmad said the looming UN deadline was not a major concern.

“We aren’t bothered by the UN deadline at all. It never crossed our mind. We are working toward our duties for our people,” Ahmad said before going into the fourth day of talks hosted by the African Union.

“We’re going to continue the talks and the deadline will pass and we will continue negotiations for as long as it takes and that could be anything between five days and one month.”