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 EL FASHER, Sudan (AP) - Tribal leaders on Friday rejected the possibility of U.N. peacekeepers replacing African Union forces in Darfur, with one chief threatening a "holy war" if non-African troops come to the Sudanese region.
Their concerns emerged as U.N. Security Council members met with Sudanese government and tribal leaders, relief workers and about 15 representatives of displaced people living in volatile camps surrounding this northern Darfur town. The council steered clear of the camps because of security concerns sparked by opposition to a Darfur peace agreement the government and main rebel group signed May 5.
Earlier this week in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, President Omar al-Bashir told the council his government would move ahead with discussions on replacing African Union peacekeepers with a U.N. force, but he refused to give an immediate green light to the plan.
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