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Militia in Darfour defying Sudan, threaten aid workers

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, March 21, 2005

CAIRO —Sudan's military is apparently being defied by the government-backed Janjaweed militia in the war-torn province of Darfour.

Western diplomatic sources said Sudan's military has demanded that Janjaweed return equipment relayed to the militia over the last two years.

The sources said Janjaweed has refused and threatened to step up attacks in Darfour.

The Security Council has been divided over whether to impose sanctions on Sudan for failing to end the war in Darfour and prosecute those suspected of war crimes, Middle East Newsline reported.

Despite Western appeals, Khartoum has failed to stop Janjaweed from continuing attacks on civilians in Darfour. the sources said. They said Janjaweed has frightened off Western aid workers in the province.

On March 16, the United Nations said it has withdrawn international staff in Darfour because of threats by Janjaweed. The militia said it planned to target foreigners and UN convoys in western Darfour.

Over the last week, the UN has withdrawn aid staffers from West Darfour to Geneina, the state capital. Other international aid workers have already left West Darfour.

The sources said that Janjaweed's threats appeared to be in response to a demand by authorities for the militia to return equipment, including vehicles. Khartoum employed Janjaweed to fight the rebellion in Darfour in 2003 and 2004, in which at least 180,000 people were killed.

For its part, Khartoum has asserted that Al Qaida operatives fleeing from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia entered Sudan. Officials said Al Qaida was believed to be targeting pro-U.S. members of the Sudanese Cabinet.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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