Sudanese President ‘Umar Al-Bashir rejected plans for a joint African Union (AU)-United Nations peacekeeping force in the war-torn Darfur province in western Sudan.
He said he would only accept African troops under AU leadership.
Al-Bashir said he was in favor of logistical and financial aid from the U.N. to support the AU forces, but not troops.
The U.N. wants to send more than 20,000 peacekeepers to Darfur, to replace the 7,000-strong AU force which is largely understaffed, under-equipped and cash strapped.
Sudan has been adamant in its rejection of a U.N. force, claiming it constitutes interference and colonialism.
The idea of a hybrid force to control the raging violence in Sudan was brought up at a meeting in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa earlier this month.
At the time, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Sudan had backed the plan in principle.
Sudanese officials sent mixed messages regarding the proposal.
The violence in Darfur erupted in February 2003. It involves a conflict over power and natural resources between local rebels and groups called Janjaweed, who are allegedly backed by the Sudanese government.
More than 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur, according to the United Nations, with some organizations saying the death toll may be as high as half a million.
Al-Bashir said the numbers have been inflated. He said the death toll is no more than 9,000 and downplayed reports of a humanitarian crisis.