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afrol.com, 20 September - The Minister of External Relations of Sudan, Mustafa Osman Ismail, yesterday addressed the security situation in his war-torn country, putting all blame on the rebels of Southern Sudan. Rebel forces were "violating the terms" of the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) Agreement. Therefore, "it was now necessary to revise the agreement". The OLS is a UN-sponsored program that delivers humanitarian relief supplies to hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan. In August, Sudanese government planes resumed bombing civilian and humanitarian targets with no plausible military significance, including bombs on or near two relief agency compounds. Thus, humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, pulled out of Sudan for a short while, interrupting the OLS. Protests against the Sudanese government and its attacks on civilians and relief agencies were loud and general. The US Committee for Refugees criticized the Sudanese government for continuing to maneuver for more control over the OLS and potentially tighter restrictions. "Sudanese officials continue to block OLS humanitarian aid to stricken areas of the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan, and extensive areas of Western Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria Provinces in the south. Nor does OLS operate in conflict areas in northeastern Sudan. In short, OLS is not allowed to help hundreds of thousands of Sudanese people." Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail, on the other hand, claimed that "rebels continued to violate the partial ceasefire. That had created obstacles and security complications, which in turn impeded the delivery of humanitarian relief to the affected citizens of the area." He called on the Assembly to pressure the rebel movement to stop using locations such as schools and hospitals as “shields”, and to fulfil its obligations by halting military operations. These "security complications" addressed by the minister are an old argument to maneuver for more control over the OLS by the government. "Sudanese authorities continue to accuse OLS aid agencies of arms smuggling," the US Committee for Refugees says. "This unfounded accusation lays the groundwork for eventual attacks or blockages on all OLS operations, at whatever time fits the strategic needs of the Sudanese government." - The Government of the Sudan continued its efforts at national reconciliation through direct and indirect contacts with the opposition groups, the minister yesterday claimed. "Agreement had been reached to hold a national conference in which all political and social forces in the country would participate, and where all issues pertaining to national unity, freedom and democracy would be discussed. Peaceful settlement of disputes was a principle objective of the United Nations and the Sudan adhered to that objective and endeavoured to realize it," Ismail said, and continued his speech by attacking US foreign policy. Sudan's 17-year civil war has left an estimated 2 million people dead and has uprooted some 4.3 million. Sudan has produced more uprooted people than any other country in the world. One of every nine uprooted people worldwide is Sudanese. Sources: UN & US Committee for Refugees
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