Darfur: Gaddafi Attacks UN Plan

From AND

Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has described the raging crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region as a conflict for oil control among major Western oil companies.

Delivering his speech at the 7th anniversary of the African Union (AU) in Sirte, Libya, Gaddafi questioned the UN plan to send international peacekeeping troops to replace the battling AU troops in Darfur, Angolan press reported.

"Why not send international troops to European or Asian regions in conflict, such as the Basque in Spain or Kashmir?" he asked.

He described the deployment of the UN peacekeeping troops in the war-ravaged Sudan’s region as "a prelude to a re-colonisation process".

Gaddafi said Africa stood ready to increase the number of AU peacekeepers in Darfur, adding that countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Libya, South Africa and Nigeria could contribute troops along with Sudan, to support the AU mission and to stop what he called foreign interference.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was expected to meet over Darfur today (Monday).

Although they are no further details about the meeting, but it is believed that it is aimed at convincing Khartoum to accept the deployment of the UN peacekeeping troops in the area.

Khartoum has, on several occasions refused to allow the UN peacekeeping troops in Darfur, saying their presence in the area will worsen the situation.