United Nations, Oct 11: The United Nations is preparing for a new peacekeeping mission in Sudan provided the country's government and the rebels sign a comprehensive agreement to end two decades of civil war. Diplomats and officials estimates that several thousand troops and hundreds of observers would be needed for the mission which would come into being if talks between Sudanese government and the rebels -- Sudan People's Liberation Movement -- being held in Kenya since Tuesday are successful in ending the longest civil war in Africa.
The Security Council yesterday asked Secretary General Kofi Annan to "initiate preparatory work" on helping to implement the peace accord.
In a statement asking the UN to begin preparatory work, the Council said it looks forward to the successful conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement.
The US has offered to remove Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism if it is able to reach a peace agreement with the rebels who comprise mostly Christians.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council yesterday welcomed security agreements reached between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) that, it said, would help settle the long conflict. Bureau Report