Kufuor condemns cruel killing of 10 AU Peacekeepers

From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Oct. 4, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of the African Union (AU), on Thursday condemned the weekend's cruel and senseless killing of 10 AU Peacekeepers serving in Sudan's Darfur Region and gave the assurance that, the dastardly act would not deter Africa from pushing ahead with the goal of bringing peace to all troubled spots on the Continent.

"Africa mourns with the respective nations and bereaved families of the gallant soldiers, and extends our heartfelt condolences to them," he said.

The soldiers, seven from Nigeria, one each from Senegal, Botswana and Mali, died following an attack on the African Union Mission's (AMIS) Haskanita Camp by a group of heavily armed men. Eight others were seriously wounded.

Jointly addressing the AU Commission and its Permanent Representatives, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Kufuor said it was to prevent the continuance of such inhuman acts that the United Nations (UN) must expedite action on the deployment of the "Heavy Support Package" to AMIS.

It should also ensure immediate deployment of the AU-UN Hybrid Force in Darfur, even as efforts were being made to find political settlement to the conflict by bringing the warring parties to the negotiation table.

The AU's under-manned force of 7,000 peacekeepers drawn from 26 countries were sent to the area in July 2004 and is to be replaced by a more robust Hybrid Force, with a strength of 26,000 soldiers and police officers.

President Kufuor said it was regrettable that despite the tremendous strides Africa was making in the fields of political and economic governance as well as conflict resolution and management, durable peace and stability was still elusive in some parts of the Continent, citing, Sudan, Somalia and the Comoros.

He described the situation in Darfur, Sudan, as particularly worrying, as the peace process continued to face serious challenges. The conflict in Darfur had left about 200,000 people dead and displaced two million others since Khartoum enlisted Janjaweed Arab militia allies to put down a revolt by an ethnic minority in 2003. Africa, President Kufuor said, however, would remain undaunted and work to establish peace, security and development throughout the Continent for all of its peoples.

Chancellor Merkel expressed concern about conflicts in Darfur and Somalia, describing them as catastrophic for mankind. She said everything necessary should, therefore, be done to find political settlement to the conflicts.