AP intv with outgoing AU commander in Darfur

Описание: (25 Sep 2006)
1. Wide of African Union (AU) peacekeepers base camp in Al Fasher in northern Darfur
2. Mid of AU flag
3. Close up of AU soldier
4. Mid of soldier on guard
5. SOUNDBITE (English): Major General Cru Ihekire, Commander of AU Force in Darfur
"Your guess is as good as mine. It depends on what support the mission has. If the mission has the support to go beyond 31st December, I believe it will go beyond 31st December. But the important issue now is not in supporting AMIS (the AU Force) the way it is. The important thing is to strengthen AMIS. To carry out effectively the mandate it has been given. Because if we support the mission as it is now, not much will change. Because the troops are still insufficient, equipment is still poor, funding is still not proper...we will not be doing much. The important thing is to strengthen AMIS, to be more effective in what it is supposed to do."
6. Zoom in from wide to mid of AU soldiers walking in camp
STORYLINE:
The Commander of the African Union force in Darfur said on Monday the peacekeeping mission must be strengthened in order to function effectively in the area.
Major General Cru Ihekire was speaking to AP Television at his base camp in Al Fasher in northern Darfur, on the last day of his command.
On Wednesday, the African Union had announced it would extend the mandate of a peacekeeping force in Darfur to December 31st, avoiding a showdown for now over Sudan's refusal to permit the United Nations to take over the mission and triple its size.
Ihekire said he believed the mission would go even beyond 31st December if it had sufficient support.
But, he said, AMIS (Acronym for the AU force) would not be able to carry out its mandate if it remained the way it was.
"The troops are still insufficient, equipment is still poor, funding is still not proper...we will not be doing much. The important thing is to strengthen AMIS, to be more effective in what it is supposed to do," said Ihekire.
His comments came as Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir criticised the US saying it's push to replace AU soldiers with United Nations forces was behind plans to create a "new Middle East" in war-ravaged Darfur.
Sudan's government vehemently opposes the introduction of UN Forces in Darfur, where fighting between rebels and government-backed militias has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 (m) million since 2003.
The confrontation between al-Bashir's government and the UN Security Council had briefly raised fears that the AU would leave Darfur entirely once its mandate expired on September 30.
But al-Bashir backed down and said the AU force should be allowed to remain for as long as necessary.
The peacekeeping force is meant to help enforce a May peace agreement signed by the government and one of the major rebel groups in Darfur.
Pressure for the UN to take control has increased in recent months as diplomats have realised that the Darfur peace deal is not stopping the violence.
Humanitarian groups say the fighting has only become worse in what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian disaster.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...