UN Secretary General begins tour of Sudan

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 09-04-2007 14:49

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (File photo)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in Sudan for a five-day visit. Ban is pressing for the rapid deployment of a strong peacekeeping force in Darfur and a quick start of new peace talks.

After his arrival on Monday, Ban Ki-Moon outlined a three-point plan for solving the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

The plan includes the implementation of an international peacekeeping operation in the conflict-torn region. It also seeks to forge a political solution through peace negotiations, as well as to promote humanitarian aid and development.

The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution authorizing the deployment of 26-thousand AU and UN peacekeepers in Darfur. The UN secretary general describes the deployment as an unprecedented operation.

He is also urging parties involved in the conflict to take this opportunity to return to the peace table.

Ban Ki-Moon plans to hold talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday.

And the UN chief is scheduled to spend one day in Darfur on Wednesday, and visit a camp that is home to over 30-thousand people displaced by the conflict. The refugees there say basic necessities are in short supply.

A refugees Ankarif Abdualla said, "The water problem is very difficult. Sometimes we have to share the little that we get with those without."

Deputy Rep. for UN & AU, Henry Anyidoho said, "If the United Nations is coming to add up to the African Union for us to bring peace here, then we should not drain away the water resources from the population. This has been a major concern to us."

The conflict in Darfur has so far claimed more than 200-thousand lives. Local officials are hoping the Sudanese government and the UN chief will announce a new round of Darfur peace negotiations at the end of Ban's visit. And UN officials hope the talks will get under way in October.

Editor:Yang Jie