afrol News, 22 October - Amnesty International (AI) today called on Sudanese government to end the obstruction to the speedy deployment of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the hybrid UN/AU force due to take over from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) by the end of December 2007.

In a published report [Obstruction and Delay: Peacekeepers needed in Darfur now], AI highlights the key obstructions and delays to the deployment of the UN peacekeeping force by the government of Sudan and the failure of the international community to offer UNAMID urgently-needed equipment such as military helicopters.

"The prevailing insecurity in parts of Darfur is unacceptable. UNAMID is facing the same types of barriers from the government of Sudan which so weakened the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) peacekeeping force", said Erwin van der Borght, AI's Africa Program Director.

"The government of Sudan must accept the AU-UN agreement regarding the composition of the force, allow it to be properly resourced to be able to fulfil its mandate, including with sufficient arms and means of land and air transport, ensure that there are no restrictions on UNAMID's freedom of movement, and make land immediately available for the establishment of UNAMID bases."

Right activists said the absence of an effective international peacekeeping force means the human rights of civilians will continue to be violated with impunity.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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