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U.S. Condemns Attack on Sudanese Village and Police Convoy

26 January 2006

Praises African Union peacekeepers for their response to attacks

The United States condemns the Sudan Liberation Army's attacks on the village of Golo and a police convoy in West Darfur on January 23, which killed and wounded a large number of Sudanese Armed Forces personnel.

In a written statement released January 25, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called the attacks "unwarranted and violations of the cease-fire agreement.  Their perpetrators must be held accountable," he said.

McCormack went on to "commend the African Union Mission in Sudan for its response in both of these incidents, particularly its assistance to humanitarian workers caught in the midst of the fighting."

Despite the presence of 7,000 African Union (AU) peacekeepers, violence has continued in Darfur.  An estimated 180,000 people have died, according to news reports, and another 2 million have been displaced to refugee camps since rebels began fighting the Sudanese government and Arab militiamen three years ago.

A cease-fire agreement reached in May 2003 is not holding.  Another round of AU-sponsored peace talks has concluded in Abuja, Nigeria, but attacks continue and the humanitarian situation steadily is deteriorating.

For additional information, see Darfur Humanitarian Emergency.

Following is the text of McCormack's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 25, 2006
Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman

Violence in Darfur

The United States condemns the Sudan Liberation Army's attacks on the village of Golo and a police convoy in West Darfur on January 23, which killed and wounded a large number of Sudanese Armed Forces personnel.

These attacks were unwarranted and violations of the cease-fire agreement. Their perpetrators must be held accountable.

We commend the African Union Mission in Sudan for its response in both of these incidents, particularly its assistance to humanitarian workers caught in the midst of the fighting.

The United States calls on all the parties to cooperate fully with the African Union, abide by the ceasefire, and adhere to UN Security Council resolutions and the terms of the humanitarian and security protocols they promised to uphold. The United States is firmly committed to peace in Sudan. Only a political solution can bring durable peace and resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.  We urge the Government of Sudan and the rebels to negotiate seriously at the peace talks in Abuja to achieve a peaceful settlement.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)