Sudan denies war in Darfur continues

The UN Security Council is set to discuss sanctions against Liberia, and Sudan in particular, after the Sudanese government failed to bring an end to the violence in Darfur province in the west of the country.

The former head of the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur announced earlier this year the six-year bloodshed in Darfur was over.

But that statement was contradicted by a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who said fighting between government forces and rebels continues, while civilians and peacekeepers remain at risk.

RT spoke to the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir about the international community's role in resolving the situation in Darfur.

“Naturally, the international community plays a positive role and helps Sudan to establish peace in Darfour. But there is another aspect to this problem. There are forces that seek to overthrow the regime in Sudan.”

He added that “the military forces now deployed in Sudan are the peacekeepers whose presence is welcome. To help them to fulfill their tasks we facilitated and simplified various procedures to the maximum.”

Omar Al-Bashir noted the existence of “a trilateral commission of the Sudanese government, the African Union and the UN which is working very effectively.” But he also said “we are sometimes surprised by the remarks of the UN’s Secretary General, the commander of the peacekeeping force, that do not match the real state of things.”