Sudan's president orders Darfur crackdown on armed groups, including militia

June 19th, 2004.

KHARTOUM, June 19 (AFP) -- The Sudanese president has ordered security forces to disarm all groups, including rebels and pro-government militia, in the conflict-ridden region of Darfur, state-run radio said on Saturday.

Arab militias and government troops have been blamed for a wave of killing and attacks on Sudanese Muslim villagers in the region where rebels rose up in February last year, accusing Khartoum of neglecting the region which borders Chad.

At least 10,000 people have been killed and up to one million displaced, with many fleeing into Chad.

The radio said Omar al-Beshir had reiterated his commitment to a Chad- brokered ceasefire deal with Darfur rebels.

"What happened in Darfur is bloody and severe for all Sudanese people, not only the Darfurians," the president said in a statement also carried by some newspapers.

"We renew once again our commitment to what we agreed in Ndjamena and underline that the security of sister Chad is an indivisible part of Sudanese security. Therefore, we will not allow anybody to disturb stability in Chad from Sudanese territory," he added.

He ordered all government departments to reinforce security and clamp down on law-breaking rebels, the pro-Khartoum janjawid militias and other armed groups, disarming them and taking them to court.

The president made his statement just one day after the United States indicated it was considering imposing sanctions on Sudanese officials blamed for the crisis in Darfur.

"On the subject of imposing sanctions on the government of Sudan officials, it's something we're looking at," said Adam Ereli, a State Department spokesman.

Sudan's state radio said Beshir ordered state institutions to strengthen the security and stability of the border with Chad and prevent any illegal access to the neighbouring country.

Police were to be deployed to provide protection in the region and secure the return of people to their villages, while legal authorities in Darfur were told to set up prosecution offices and courts to try bandits and other criminals "without delay".

Beshir instructed ministries, particularly those of finance and agriculture, to provide seeds for the farming season and to implement development programmes and basic service.

The president urged governmental and non-governmental organisations to launch a humanitarian campaign for the return of displaced people and provide them with shelter, food, clothing and medicine, the radio said.