Visiting African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar
Konare dismissed attempts by some nations to slap sanctions on
Sudan for the Darfur issue, saying time was "not appropriate at all
for such a talk".
After meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Konare told
a press conference that any sanction on Sudan for the Darfur issue
could complicate the situation.
"What is strange is that some sides start talking about
sanctions at a time when an agreement is reached with the Sudanese
government," Konare said, quoted by Egypt's official MENA news
agency.
Some members of the UN Security Council, particularly the United
States and the United Kingdom, have been discussing imposing
sanctions against Sudan for the Darfur issue.
Konare said the AU has, after long months, managed to reach an
agreement with Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir, which allows to
increase the number of foreign peacekeepers in Darfur to
20,000.
These forces will be under the command of the AU but will
include soldiers from the UN, he said, adding the AU currently
maintained a 7,800-strong peacekeeping force in Darfur.
The AU, the UN and the Sudanese government agreed last November on
a three-phase support plan, also known as the Annan plan as it was
put forward by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
With the first phase of the plan, also known as a light support
package, already underway, Sudan announced on April 16 that it
approved the inauguration of the second phase, also known as "the
heavy support phase."
The second phase involves the deployment of 3,000 UN troops and
six attack helicopters in Darfur to support the 7,800-strong
African force, as well as preparation for the next phase, in which
a much larger UN force would be sent to the region.
Konare also said the situation in Somalia was very serious,
warning of the grave consequences if this situation was not put
under control.
He called for encouraging a political dialogue in Somalia to
back the Somali government. "Only Somalis would be able to settle
their problems," Konare stressed.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2007)
