UN endorses Darfur peacekeepers

Conflict in Darfur has displaced 2m people

The United Nations Security Council has voted in favour of creating a UN peace force for Sudan's Darfur region.

The resolution passed by the council states that such a force would be deployed only with the consent of the Sudanese government.

Khartoum strongly opposes plans for a UN force on its territory.

Some 200,000 people have been killed, according to the UN, and more than two million driven from their homes in three years of fighting in Darfur.

Twelve council member states voted in favour of the US and UK-sponsored resolution, which authorises sending 17,500 UN troops and 3,000 UN police to Darfur.

Boycott

The other three council members - China, Russia and Qatar - abstained from the vote, while Sudan boycotted the council session.

The force as outlined in the resolution would replace some 7,000 African Union troops due to leave Darfur on 1 October.

The Sudanese government wants to send at least 10,000 of its own troops to Darfur, and human rights organisations allege it is already flying soldiers into the region.

It has resisted pressure for a UN force in Darfur.

Earlier this week, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir kept US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer waiting for several days after she flew to Khartoum to deliver a letter asking him to accept UN troops.