Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Saturday ordered his army to crack down on rival armed groups in the beleaguered province of Darfur, in Western Sudan. "In line with our previous declaration about the end of military operations and the containment of strife and rebellion in Darfur, and in order to close the doors of evil, I declare full mobilization of Sudanese armed forces to restore security and stability by cracking down on all militias and stripping all gunmen of their arms," Bashir said in a statement broadcast on Sudanese television.
He said all armed groups, be they pro-government or not, will be forced to disarm and disband. "I mean all militias - the rebels of Janjaweed, Tora Bora and Peshmerga," al-Bashir said. Janjaweed is the name of militias from Arab origins fighting against the Tora Bora and Peshmerga militias of African roots in the Darfur sector. The Sudanese president also reiterated his commitment to the peace agreement signed with the Sudan People's Liberation Army led by John Garang to end Sudan's long-protracted civil war.
| Well, there are the words. I have my doubts anything'll come of it, but he's probably taken the international pressure off for a month or so. A few more words and he can drag it out for six months... |
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