Violent pro-UN protest in Darfur

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.