Sudan accepted the UNSC resolution, but rejected the US motives

ADDIS ABABA, August 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Sudan backed down Saturday night, July 31, from an initial rejection of a UN Security Council resolution threatening it with punitive measures if it failed to rein in Darfur militias.

“Sudan accepts the decision of the (UN) Security Council on Darfur, because it is a member of the United Nations and has no other options. Sudan is not going to be another Israel, which has no respect to the decisions of the world body,” Reuters quoted Osman Al-Said, Sudan's ambassador to the African Union, as telling a news conference in Ethiopia.

“Sudan is not happy with the (UN) Security Council resolution, but we will comply with it to the best of our ability. Because should we fail to do so, we know our enemies would not hesitate to take other measures against our country,” he explained.

On Friday, July 30, government spokesman Al-Zahawe Ibrahim Malik said in a statement that Khartoum rejected “threats and is prepared and capable of defending its people and of confronting conspiracies by the hostile powers and plots by those who are ambitious in its economic resources”.

The Security Council resolution gives Sudan 30 days to disarm the Janjaweed militias that have been blamed for most of the atrocities in Darfur, and carried an implicit threat of international sanctions.

Rejecting US Stance

“They can say whatever they wish to say. The Security Council has spoken in rather strong vote,” Powell said (AFP)

However, Al-Said lashed out at the United States which drafted the resolution.

“Sudan completely rejects the motive of the US government in sponsoring the resolution because it has nothing to do with the welfare of the people of Darfur or of Africa,” he said.

He said US interest in arid, impoverished Darfur had more to do with winning the black vote in November's US presidential election.

Instead, the Sudanese official called on the 53-member AU to mediate a solution to theDarfur problem.

“This is an African problem and it should be solved by Africans,” Al-Said said.

The AU has 96 military observers monitoring an April cease-fire between Khartoum and rebel groups in Darfur.

It also plans to send some 270 troops from Nigeria and Rwanda to protect the observers.

“Sudan has agreed that the AU protection team be deployed in Darfur. The Dutch are expected to airlift them soon,” Al-Said said without giving a timeframe.

The Arab League voiced its deep concern Saturday at the escalatory situation in Darfur.

The pan-Arab body’s chief delegate to the UN, Yahia Al-Mahmasani, told Al-Jazeera satellite channel that taking an international action against Sudan would make matters worse.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell vowed Saturday to forge ahead with efforts to end the conflict in Darfur.

“They can say whatever they wish to say. The Security Council has spoken in rather strong vote,” Powell said.