U.S. condemns ongoing violence in Sudan

The United States condemned on Friday the ongoing violence in Sudan's Darfur that prevents a durable cease-fire between the government forces and rebel militia.

A State Department statement said that a joint African Union- United Nations team had just met with Darfur rebel commanders in Um Rai on December 28 in order to urge them to abide by the cease- fire and participate fully in the Cease-fire Commission.

However, "immediately after the meeting, the Sudanese Armed Forces bombed the meeting site," the statement said.

"These actions violate the Sudanese government's pledge made in Addis Ababa on November 16, 2006 to facilitate the work of the African Union to achieve a strengthened cease-fire," the statement said.

The statement also condemned the attacks by the rebels on humanitarian workers in South Darfur.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and some 2 million displaced because of the armed conflicts in Darfur.

Source: Xinhua