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Sudan Tribune

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Salva Kiir suggests directs talks with Sudan’s Bashir on UN forces

Nov 4, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese First Vice President suggested to hold direct talks with president al-Bashir on the deployment of the UN forces in Darfur, a press report said Saturday.

refugees_Kalma_Camp.jpgThe Sudanese First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit during a meeting with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested to involve President Omar al-Bashir personally in direct negotiations on the mandate and the tasks of the international forces.

According to Khartoum based al-Ray Alaam, Kiir said al-Bashir should be involved in the determination of the nature and the mandate of UN peace mission to Darfur. In addition, He said the Sudanese president has to be consulted in the selection of the countries that would participate in Darfur mission.

State minister for cabinet affairs and member of the accompanying delegation, Telar Deng, said Tony Blair promised to discuss this proposal with the US president George Bush in order to find a solution to this issue of UN forces.

First Vice-President Salva Kiir Mayardit returned to Khartoum Friday evening after a four-day visit to London during which he held talks with British officials on the UN forces for Darfur and Sudan peace implementation.

Telar indicated that the SPLM by its position in favor of the UN forces deployment wants to assure the protection of Darfur civilians. He further added this position does not mean that SPLM wants to topple down of the government of national unity because it is a part of it.

The state minister added that the British officials had stressed the need to continue dialogue with the Government National Unity to resolve the Darfur crisis and strengthen the peace agreements.

Sudanese president, who is under intense international pressure over the deployment of the UN forces in Darfur, said recently he is willing to accept a large increase in the number of foreign peacekeepers in Darfur with a stronger mandate to protect civilians, as long as they remain under African Union control.

On August 31 UN Security Council voted resolution 1706 demanding the immediate deployment of some 20,000 UN troops to replace the ill-equipped African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur.

(ST)

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