Sudan FM warns UNAMID to commit to its tasks or leave country

Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti on Saturday warned the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur ( UNAMID) to leave the country unless it can be committed to its tasks, Sudan Radio reported.
"UNAMID should commit itself to its specific tasks according to international conventions or leave the country," the Radio quoted Karti as saying.
He reiterated Khartoum's rejection to reinvestigating the alleged mass rape at Tabit village in North Darfur State, noting that a new investigation tends to incriminate Sudan after it was acquitted by previous investigations.
These allegations tend to halt the voluntary return of the displaced people and refugees to their home areas after peace and stability prevailed in the region.
He said Tabit area has been rehabilitated by Qatar State, confirming Sudan's ability to defend its land and citizens.
On Nov. 4, Radio Dabanga, which is concerned with Darfur issues and pro to the armed groups in Darfur, quoted a tribal leader as saying that over 200 women and a girl from Tabit were raped by government forces, while the Sudanese government completely refuted the claims.
One day later, UNAMID announced that government troops denied the mission access to Tabit to investigate on those claims. Khartoum, in turn, regarded UNAMID's move as an attempt to solidify those claims.
Although the mission, after been allowed access to Tabit to investigate the rape claims, announced that it did not find any evidence on mass rape in the village, Khartoum's anger continued, particularly after the mission asked to conduct a second investigation.
Last week, UNAMID announced that its team which visited Thabit did not find any evidence on rape cases, but press reports stated that a secret report for the mission indicated that the heavy presence of military and police in Thabit made a conclusive investigation difficult.
The Sudanese foreign ministry said on Sunday it would not allow UNAMID a second visit, and justified its decision by expressing " doubts about the motives behind the insistence of the mission to conduct a second visit to Tabet."
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council issued a statement voicing its concern over the rape allegations, and calling on the government of Sudan to conduct a thorough investigation.
UNAMID, established in 2007, has been mandated to protect civilians, support humanitarian assistance, monitor and verify implementation of agreements, contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, and assist in the political reconciliation following the 2003 civil war between the government of Sudan, militias and other armed rebel groups.