By: Wasil Ali

July 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government officially informed members of the UN Security Council that it rejected any reference to Chapter Seven in a resolution for the Darfur peacekeeping force.

Mustafa Ismail

An unidentified Sudanese official speaking to Al-Hayat newspaper published in London said that his government rejects any mandate for the peacekeepers enabling it to use force in the areas they are deployed.

The U.K. and France dropped a threat of sanctions against Sudan in the revised U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would authorize an expanded peacekeeping force in Darfur.

The Sudanese government main objection is the mandate allowing the force to “use all necessary means” to protect civilians. Khartoum also rejects any resolution under Chapter VII of the UN charter

Earlier Sudan’s presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail told BBC Arabic service that the revised UN text is a replication of resolution 1706 issued last year and was rejected by Khartoum.

Ismail said that Sudan wants to limit the mandate of the peacekeeping force to protect its own members. He accused US and Britain of attempting to escalate the Darfur issue to cover up for their mistakes in Iraq.

Diplomats told AFP China, Qatar and Indonesia were pushing for softer language on the use of Chapter Seven.

However the African bloc support the inclusion of Chapter Seven to protect their troops should they decide to send forces to Darfur.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, which then enlisted the Janjaweed militia group to help crush the rebellion.

According to UN estimates, at least 200,000 people have died from the combined effect of war and famine since the conflict started in February 2003. But Khartoum disputes the figures.

(ST)