Sudan accuses Germany of supporting Darfur rebels

Tuesday July 13th, 2004.

KHARTOUM, July 12, 2004 (MENA) -- Sudan accused on Monday Germany of backing up rebels in the restive western region of Darfur during a visit by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said he told Fischer that his country provided a safe haven to rebel leaders, who repeatedly violated a cease-fire agreement reached in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena.

"We asked Fischer to stop supporting the rebels and help Khartoum stabilize Darfur," Osman told reporters.

He also rejected any German-backed threats of a UN Security Council action against Khartoum, noting that it would make matters worse.

Fischer had arrived in the country Sunday night to urge the government to keep promises to disarm the Arab Janjaweed militias.