Sudanese government rejects UN report

A Sudanese government official has rejected international accusations against his country of increasing the tension in Darfur and breaching its international obligations. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabstoday that the accusations are aimed at escalating tensions with the government of Sudan. It criticised the findings of a UN committee of experts that the Sudanese government is violating the sanctions imposed on Khartoum despite its pledge not to do so since 2003. In a report to the Security Council's committee on Sudan, the panel said Sudan violated a Security Council resolution and written pledges to Belarus and Russia not to use aircraft purchased from them in Darfur by carrying out "aerial bombardments and intimidating flights." "The panel received reliable information that the Sudanese armed forces had conducted several offensive military overflights and bombardments in Darfur using Antonov aircraft, Mi-24 attack helicopters, MiG-29 aircraft and Su-25 aircraft," said the 2012 report. The UN Security Council's independent panel of experts - who had monitored sanctions imposed on Darfur in 2005 - also said it was investigating whether Sudanese troops had violated the sanctions by using Iranian armoured personnel carriers in Darfur. In a related development, a member of the political sector in the National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan, Rabie Abdelati Obeid said the Sudanese government does not need to use aircraft to tackle "gangs and armed groups" in Darfur. He stressed that the UN reports are "off the mark" and said if there were real reports, they should have been against those who burn villages and threaten security. According to Abdelati, his country is facing pressure from outside Sudan, and "the International Committee has to talk openly about that if it really wants to protect civilians." Osman Yusuf Kibir, governor of North Darfur has denied that the Sudanese government has escalated its operations, stressing that armed movements are the ones responsible for any escalation in the region. Kibir told Arabstoday that the Sudanese government adheres to its responsibilities towards maintaining security and safety of citizens.