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EU observers consider quitting Darfur

07 April 2010, 22:51 CET
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(KHARTOUM) - European Union election monitors in Sudan are considering pulling out of the war-torn Darfur region because of concerns over security, the mission's head said on Wednesday.

"If I feel that security conditions are not guaranteed -- not just for the observers but for the people of Darfur -- and if I am not certain these elections will allow for credible monitoring, I will not observe them," Veronique de Keyser told AFP from Darfur's capital el-Fasher.

Darfur, an arid desert region the size of France, has been gripped by a civil war since 2003 that has killed some 300,000 people according to UN figures. Khartoum says 10,000 people have died.

Sudan is to hold its first multi-party general election since 1986 on Sunday, which will include presidential, legislative and local polls.

Opposition parties have accused President Omar al-Beshir of fraud in the landmark vote.

A report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group accused Beshir's National Congress Party (NCP) of "long-term plans to rig the elections," including by using manipulated results of a 2008 census to draw up electoral districts in its favour.

It added that the NCP had "co-opted traditional leaders and bought tribal loyalties" everywhere in the African nation, but most notably in Darfur.

Rampant insecurity in Darfur has made campaigning difficult -- if not impossible -- for candidates running there.

"I am worried that to go observe on the ground with a situation like this, with certain parties of Darfur at war, would not provide enough credibility," de Keyser said.

The American Carter Centre, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League and Japan are all sending missions to Sudan. The EU mission, with 130 observers, is the largest.

Beshir recently reiterated his threats to throw out observers.

"Anyone who insults us, we will cut their tongues off," he said in a speech this week.

"I was very surprised and even hurt by President Beshir's statements," said de Keyser.

Last month Beshir warned that if observers "intervene in our affairs, then we will cut off their fingers and crush them under our shoes."


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