Friday, September 12, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
LONDON — Sudan continues to violate its pledge to end air strikes on civilians in Darfour, UN officials said.
A United Nations report said the Sudanese Air Force has renewed air strikes in the war-torn province of Darfour. The report by the UN Human Rights Council said the air force and army were bombing civilian targets. "The human rights situation on the ground remains grim," UN special rapporteur on Sudan Sima Samar said.
"A culture of impunity is prevalent; the state fails to investigate, punish and prosecute perpetrators of human rights violations."
UN officials said Sudan has employed its new MiG-29 fighter-jets as well as Antonov air transports to bomb suspected rebel-held towns in Darfour. The officials said Russian pilots were believed to have been flying the MiG-29 for the Sudanese Air Force.
Sudan was said to have received 12 MiG-29 fighters from Russia in 2008. Both countries have denied this.