Sudan's army has vowed to combat any foreign military intervention in Darfur, even after the government accepted a UN demand to end the killing in the region within 30 days.
"The Security Council resolution about the Darfur issue is a declaration of war on the Sudan and its people," armed forces spokesman General Mohamed Beshir Suleiman told Monday's official Al Anbaa daily.
"The Sudanese army is now ready to confront the enemies of the Sudan on land, sea and air," he said. According to him, the issue of Darfur has been exploited by some people in trying to get a foothold in Sudan.
This Sudanese warning came following the Security Council's decision to pass a resolution Friday threatening "international measures" against Sudan if it did not rein in its troops and allies in the armed Janjaweed group blamed for much of the slaughter in the western area of the country.
Suleiman claimed the 30-day deadline in the UN resolution was "a preparatory period" for war against Sudan which he claimed was "being targeted by foreign powers."
"We will not welcome the Americans with flowers or white flags but we are ready to fight them in a way that will be disclosed when the time comes," said the general.
Suleiman warned of a holy war to be waged by his nation against invading powers. "The door of the jihad is still open and if it has been closed in the south it will be opened in Darfur," he said. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
