The United States said Friday it had received unconfirmed reports that the Sudanese government had launched airstrikes against civilian targets in the south of the country, despite a government pledge to halt such attacks, the State Department said.
“This would break Khartoum's pledge to end the bombings of civilian targets that they announced on May 25," said Richard Boucher, the State Department spokesman.
According to these reports, Boucher said, four Sudanese civilians were wounded in a bombing raid during a food drop by the World Food Program in Bahr Al Ghazal state.
"If confirmed, these reports will raise serious questions about the assurances that we've heard from the government of Sudan. Secretary (of State Colin) Powell has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the government of
Sudan's pledge not to bomb civilians and emphasized that this is critical to moving forward," Boucher said.
Following the Sudanese government’s decision to declare a ceasefire late last month, Powell announced plans to appoint a special US envoy to Sudan.
"We are planning to appoint a special envoy to work on the peace process and to work for reconciliation within the Sudan," said Powell – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)