Sudan admits human rights violations in Darfur, an agreement with the UN on the return of the displaced

For the first time, Sudan has admitted the occurrences of human rights violations in Darfur, one week before the end of the grace period set by the UN to establish security in the region.

The Sudanese minister of justice Ali Muhammad Othman Yassin handed over the UN observer for human rights Emanuel Akwi a list including the names of 30 members of Jangaweid militias accused of committing crimes especially rape crimes against displaced women.

The Sudanese minister said before Akwi "the government does not deny the occurrence of human rights violations, but simultaneously does not protect the one who commit these crimes." He called on the "UN observers and voluntarily associations to provide all information especially those relating to rape " to the authorities.

This recognition came while the UN Security Council is preparing to take a position concerning the situation in Darfur as from August 30 especially concerning human rights. The UN asked Sudan to disarm the Jangaweid militias before the end of August under threat of imposing sanctions on it.

Meantime, Sudan on Saturday signed an agreement providing for the return back of more than one million of displaced people because of the fighting taking place in Darfur. Sudan said it will give the people of Darfur greater role in running the affairs of the district.

The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Israel said that the agreement with the UN over the displaced internally will help to make assurances to the international community. Ismael added that the agreement will, in the first place, defuse any doubts over whether the return back of those internally displaced will be voluntarily or compulsory, adding that a UN commission will supervise their return back.