S/PV.5891 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council strongly condemns the attacks of 10 May perpetrated by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) against the Sudanese Government in Omdurman, and urges all parties to cease violence immediately, respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and commit to a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues. “The Security Council urges restraint by all parties and, in particular, warns that no retaliatory action should be taken against civilian populations, or that has an impact on stability in the region. “The Security Council reiterates the urgent need for all parties to engage fully and constructively in the political process. The Security Council calls upon the States of the region to implement their commitments under the Dakar Accord, and to cooperate with a view to putting an end to the activities of armed groups and their attempts to seize power by force. “The Security Council strongly condemns all attempts at destabilization by force, and reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2008/15. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.