UN asked to pressure rebels

Sudan rebels continue to violate a ceasefire agreement, creating obstacles for humanitarian relief, a Sudanese minister told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma’il urged the United Nations to pressure rebels to halt military operations so that relief could be facilitated in Bahr al-Ghazal. He asked the UN to “bring pressure to bear on the rebel movement (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) so as to stop using civilian locations such as hospitals and schools as human shields, and to fulfil its obligations by halting military operations”, AP reported. This was necessary “to ensure unhindered operations and save the area from another humanitarian tragedy” similar to the one in the region in 1998, he was quoted as saying by AP. Ismail said his government was pursing national reconciliation efforts through “direct and indirect” contacts with rebel groups.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced a resumption of aid flights to Bahr el Ghazal on Monday, which had been suspended after the bombing of humanitarian targets in the province.