Sudan to announce new rules for Darfur aid groups

KHARTOUM, May 16 (Reuters) Sudan today said it would announce new procedures for one of the world's largest aid operations in Darfur within a week, following a peace deal with a rebel faction in the violent western region.

UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland, who visited Darfur last week after local officials initially refused him access, urged the government to lift restrictions on 14,000 aid workers trying to help more than 3 million people.

''This afternoon we will be holding meetings with international NGOs (non-governmental organisations) ... in order to review the Darfur file,'' Humanitarian Affairs Minister Kosti Manyebi told reporters today. He added new procedures would be revealed within a week.

Aid workers have complained of harassment, travel restrictions and bureaucratic procedures obstructing their work in Darfur. Some who reported the violence they were seeing, such as Oxfam and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), have been threatened with eviction.

The government signed a peace deal with one rebel faction in the Nigerian capital Abuja earlier this month, but two other factions have refused to sign, saying the accord does not give Darfur a fair deal.

Thousands of Darfuris squatting in miserable camps in Darfur during the three years of rape, looting and killing are demonstrating angrily and at times violently against the deal.

Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha also read a written statement declaring the government would allocate more money for aid to Darfur and to offer 20,000 tonnes of extra food to the World Food Programme to cover a donor gap this year.

''The humanitarian issue represents a priority in building peace,'' he said. Taha declined to take any questions.

The African Union Peace and Security Council met yesterday and recommended that ''concrete steps'' be taken towards a transition from its 7,000-strong, underfunded and poorly equipped force in Darfur to a more robust, capable UN force.

Sudan has to date not agreed to allow UN forces to deploy to Darfur. Manyebi said the government would discuss the matter following the peace deal.

''Whether the UN forces come in or not will depend on the government of Sudan,'' he said.

Greeting Egeland in Darfur last week, a handful of pro-government demonstrators protested against UN forces in Darfur. In contrast, tens of thousands of Darfuris in the camps angrily demanded UN troops come to protect them.

MSF Holland late yesterday issued a statement saying they were treating 46 people with serious gunshot wounds after an attack last week on Labado town, where the AU has a base.

The AU confirmed a large attack on Labado town in South Darfur last week by Arab militia, known locally as Janjaweed.

The AU has in the past week also been attacked by Darfuris in the camps overflowing with more than 2 million people who are frustrated at the body's inability to stop Janjaweed raids.

REUTERS DKS ND1730