Sudanese authorities impose partial curfew in North Darfur

By Talal Ismail

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - The Sudanese authorities on Wednesday announced a partial curfew in the North Darfur province over looting of stores and bases of international organizations.

According to the official Sudan News Agency, the partial curfew was announced by a security committee in the western province following the looting of stores and bases that belong to the World Food Program and the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

"The Committee announced the imposition of a (daily) curfew in the province from 6 p.m. till 5 a.m. (local time) until further notice," the news agency quoted the security committee in North Darfur as saying.

On Tuesday, North Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the looting incidents on Friday.

On Saturday, Farhan Haq, the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, condemned the looting of the UN logistics base in the El-Flasher area in North Darfur.

UNAMID was established in 2007 with the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1769 as a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians from the fighting between the armed groups in the province.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara