Sudan opposes un force for Darfur

Sudan's President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir took the opportunitty to a visit by the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, to stress that a UN peacekeeping force for Darfur is out of question. Sudan's governemnt officials have previously threatened that Darfur would become a graveyard for any non-American troops deployed there. Al-Bashir said that Sudan opposed the deployment of a UN force because intelligence has revealed that it would come with colonial and imperialist ambitions. The Sudan government has also hardened its stance concerning the UN teams already in Darfur on humanitarian missions. The UN is nevertheless moving ahead in its planning for a Darfur deployment, despite the negative statements by the Sudan government.