Darfur security force to double

The Janjaweed are accused of widespread atrocities

The authorities in Sudan have announced plans to double the number of security forces in the troubled Darfur region to 12,000 over the next four months.

The news came at a meeting in Khartoum between government officials and a senior UN representative, Jan Pronk.

The UN has given the government 30 days to disarm the Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against non-Arab groups.

More than one million people have fled their homes in 18 months of conflict.

Mr Pronk told the BBC there had been positive progress in implementing last month's agreement between the UN and Sudan on improving security for the people of Darfur.

He said a UN mission to the area last week had found no evidence that the Sudanese government was continuing to force displaced people to return to their villages against their will.

DARFUR CONFLICT 1m displaced Up to 50,000 killed More at risk from disease and starvation Arab militias accused of ethnic cleansing Sudan blames rebels for starting conflict Q&A: Darfur conflict Resolution splits Arab press

"There are still many militia around," Mr Pronk said. "That is leading to a great deal of insecurity. Also the rebel activities are adding to the insecurity.

"But security in the camps has improved," he added.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, said the meeting had agreed on measures to improve conditions for those displaced by the fighting.

He said the UN had acknowledged his government's concern over the 30-day deadline for disarming the Arab militias blamed for the conflict in Darfur - what the UN wanted, he said, was progress in that direction.

He said he would meet Mr Pronk again in two days to discuss his plans.

The Sudanese army said on Monday that the resolution was "a declaration of war" and threatened to fight any foreign intervention, while the government said a 90-day deadline was more realistic.

The UN World Food Programme has stepped up its relief effort in Darfur with its first air drops of food intended to help families cut off from deliveries by road because of heavy rain.

Intervention calls

The growing international concern about the situation in western Sudan has led to calls for a limited form of military intervention.

Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo visited the Sudan capital, Khartoum and Libya over the weekend seeking an "African solution" to the crisis.

As chairman of the African Union, he is pressing for African troops to be sent to Darfur to disarm the Janjaweed, and the two rebels groups, accused by Sudan of starting the conflict by taking up arms last year.

Darfur has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis

Nigeria, South Africa and Rwanda had promised to send 300 soldiers to Darfur by the end of July but these have not yet arrived.

France is deploying 200 soldiers to secure Chad's eastern border with the Darfur region and deliver humanitarian aid to the 200,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad.

France has about 1,000 troops in Chad, who until now have been helping to promote stability and train Chadian forces for peacekeeping duties.

Up to 50,000 people have died since the conflict began in early 2003.

Refugees say the Janjaweed followed up government air raids by riding into their villages, slaughtering the men, raping the women and looting.

A US-drafted UN Security Council resolution demands that Sudan make good on promises it made on 3 July to rein in the fighters.