Efforts to aid Darfur reach dead end

ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU
Associated Press

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's final rejection of a joint U.N.-African peacekeeping force in Darfur came as little surprise to many involved in failed international efforts to end the region's deadly violence.

But many say civilians will be the ones to bear the costs of that opposition - thousands more will die, they fear, and many more will be forced to flee their homes unless the West can somehow muster strong sanctions against Sudan's government.

"Khartoum will not stop the massive war crimes taking place in Darfur until it is forced to," said Tom Cargyll of Chatham House, a British think tank.

The U.N. compromise deal was announced last month by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a major diplomatic breakthrough to bring peace to Darfur - one that would allow him to keep his pledge to solve the Darfur crisis before he steps down as U.N. chief later this year.

Annan said Sudan had agreed in principle to a "hybrid mission" of some 20,000 peacekeepers - mostly from Africa - to deploy in Darfur under U.N. command to replace an overwhelmed AU force.

Yet within 24 hours, Sudan's foreign minister said there was a misunderstanding and that a "mixed operation" in Darfur did not mean a "mixed force."

That put Sudan back to its original stance: No U.N. peacekeeper could deploy in Darfur, but the U.N. was welcome to provide logistical and financial support.

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