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Politics
Richardson seeks gains in Darfur
He is to meet with the Sudanese president, with whom he's familiar.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 8, 2007
KHARTOUM, Sudan - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson got a bleak assessment Sunday of the deteriorating situation in Darfur, but expressed optimism for a breakthrough with the Sudanese president he has been able to work with in the past. President Omar al-Bashir has refused to allow U.N. troops into the violence-wracked region, allowing only 20 civilians to be deployed for assistance. Richardson, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, heard disturbing reports of rape, death and corruption from the top U.S. diplomat in Sudan and humanitarian workers, but said he was not deterred from the challenge of trying to help bring peace where years of international efforts have failed. "I think we make some measurable progress if we can help the cease-fire and the humanitarian situation and possibly start a united political process that helps keep the U.N. peacekeeping effort alive," he said. Richardson was to meet with Bashir today in Khartoum, then fly to Darfur on Tuesday to meet with rebel leaders and the commander of overwhelmed African Union forces patrolling the area. Richardson flew to Sudan at the request of the Save Darfur Coalition because he has negotiated successfully with Bashir in the past over the release of foreign prisoners. Cameron Hume, the chief diplomat who was an aide to Richardson when he was U.N. ambassador, laid out the challenge to make progress. "I don't think anybody's strategy is working," he told Richardson. .
[Last modified January 8, 2007, 05:41:32]
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