|
 UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Security Council Friday authorized planning for the expected U.N. takeover of peacekeeping operations in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur region.
A council statement asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan "to initiate contingency planning without delay" with the African Union for a possible transition to a U.N. operation. African Union peacekeepers are currently in Darfur.
"The purpose of today's presidential statement was to kick off contingency planning," said U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, the current council president. "And my instructions, and my intentions are very clear — which is to move as far and as fast as we can during the month of February."
|