The African Union has accused Sudanese government forces of attacking civilians in Darfur, committing acts of ”calculated and wanton destruction” that have killed at least 44 people during the past two weeks. It gave four instances of Sudanese troops conducting ”coordinated offensive operations” with the Janjaweed militia in Darfur.
The United Nations said on Friday the Sudan government and Darfur rebels have responded positively to a temporary ceasefire plea to allow a planned polio vaccination campaign to go ahead next week. But Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, raised fears that rebel groups fighting government forces in Sudan’s western Darfur region are planning to launch attacks ahead of Sunday’s peace deal signing ceremony to end the country’s 21 year southern civil war.