Region | Sudan

Violent pro-UN protest in Darfur

Two students were killed and at least 10 others were injured in Darfur as police violently dispersed a protest in favour of UN troops.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 September 4, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • Sudan has ruled that African Union troops may remain in Darfur but only if their AU mandate was extended beyond September 30 and not as part of a UN force.
  • Image Credit:

Khartoum: Two students were killed and at least 10 others were injured in Darfur as police violently dispersed a protest in favour of UN troops.

A UN report on Monday said that police stormed the El Fasher university to stop an unauthorised rally, while a "military procession" of up to 50 vehicles drove through the El Fasher town "to show government force".

Sudan on Monday ruled that African Union troops may remain in Darfur but only if their AU mandate was extended beyond September 30 and not as part of a UN force.

Presidential Adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail said the government rejected a UN transition and argued that the UN mandate's goal was "regime change".

"The United States has a clear strategy ... of trying to weaken this government ... or trying to change the government," Ismail said.

Former rebels who are now part of government with the dominant National Congress Party said they did not agree with the decision to ask the AU to leave.

"It is endangering the Darfur peace agreement and endangering Sudan's relations with the African and the international community," said Yasser Arman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

A US-British backed UN resolution passed on Thursday said that more than 20,000 UN troops would take over peacekeeping from AU forces.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an investigation into incident at the university. Critics say Khartoum fears UN troops would be used to arrest officials likely to be indicted by the ICC.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

More from Sudan

  1. flydubai starts service to Sudanese capital

  2. Bashir not to attend OIC summit in Istanbul

  3. Sudan parties report widespread poll fraud

  4. 'Iranians sold banned devices to Sudan'

All articles in Sudan

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News
News Editor's choice