U.N. Official Lauds Sudan On Darfur Force

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. peacekeeping chief Undersecretary-General John-Marie Guehenno yesterday called Sudan's acceptance of a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force for Darfur "a significant step forward," although he cautioned "it's not the end of the road."

A Sudanese diplomat in Ethiopia confirmed yesterday that Sudan has accepted the mission after receiving assurances Tuesday that a "hybrid" A.U.-U.N. force of between 17,000 and 19,000 troops will not be open-ended and Sudan will remain in control of its borders.

Akuei Bona Malwal, the deputy head of mission for Sudan in Ethiopia, said the joint force could be in Darfur by October.