African Union to act on Darfur violence - Annan

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today he expects the African Union to press ahead this week with plans for a mission with the United Nations to help end the escalating violence in Sudan’s conflict-wracked Darfur region.

Annan said he spoke to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir earlier Tuesday who promised a response tomorrow morning to three outstanding issues in the so-called “hybrid mission” – the size of the force, the appointment of a high representative who would report to both the AU and the UN, and the appointment of a force commander.