The minister of federal affairs, Abdel Basit Sabderat, said clan leader Musa Hilal had been named as his adviser.

The US State Department and human rights groups say Mr Hilal is a leader of the Janjaweed, which is accused of committing war crimes in Darfur.

There have been repeated delays in deploying a joint UN-AU force there.

Only 9,000 out of a planned 26,000 have been sent.

Tens of thousands of people have died US diplomat dies in Sudan attack ...
World court to open Darfur cases ... in Darfur and two-thirds of the surviving population rely on humanitarian assistance.

Setback for peace

Mr Hilal told Reuters news agency he would be based in Khartoum but might have to travel to outlying regions.

BBC Africa editor Mary Harper says his appointment indicates that the authorities in Khartoum are not prepared to make compromises in the face of strong international pressure.

Mr Hilal has said deaths in Darfur are simply repercussions of a war started by rebel groups to whom he is opposed.

His appointment as a ministerial adviser will be seen as another set-back in the faltering peace process in Darfur, and is likely to increase rebel suspicions about the motivations of the authorities in Khartoum.

The latest move by the Sudanese government will not encourage those in Darfur who rely on humanitarian aid for their survival, our correspondent says.

(BBC)

<< Back