afrol News, 13 March - An assistant to the United Nations Secretary General, Edmond Mulet, has told the Security Council that "it is difficult to see a glimmer of hope for negotiations" in Darfur crisis in the face of the Sudanese government's continuous military action and the looming fighting among the fragmented rebel groups.

The UN officials believed that the deployment of the hybrid UN/AU mission [UNAMID] "might be one element in the international strategy, peacekeeping alone cannot bring security" in the crisis-laden region. He said a vital political process is indispensable to secure lasting and effective progress.

The Hybrid mission, which consists of over 9,000 troops, police and civilians, needs US $2 billion annual allotment. However, most people said the estimated allotment has been over exaggerated.

Darfur crisis, which erupted in 2003, claimed several lives as well as displaced tens of thousands.

All parties to the conflict - the government, Janjaweed militia and armed rebel groups - have been blamed for causing untold instability.

Security Council has been pressurised to adopt further sanctions on Sudanese government and armed rebels bent on destabilising the region.

President Omer el-Bashir is currently attending the 11th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Senegal. The OIC leaders have been urged by rights groups to pressure Sudanese leader to hold dialogue with armed rebels as a way of ending hostilities.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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