Sudan called on to accept UN troops

European Union leaders today called on Sudan to accept a UN peacekeeping force in the western region of Darfur.

“The UN operation is the only viable and realistic option for peacekeeping in Darfur,” Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen said at a news conference during a one-day summit of European leaders. “We are all very deeply concerned about the situation.”

The UN Security Council has called for a UN force of 20,000 in Darfur, but not without the consent of Sudan’s government.

However, Sudan repeatedly has resisted such a force, saying it would violate national sovereignty and could ignite anti-Western sentiment in the largely Muslim region.

An underfunded, undermanned and under-equipped African Union peacekeeping force has been unable to quell violence in Darfur.