US official assesses situation in Darfur

El Fashir- Sudan (PANA) -- US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Robert Zoelick arrived here Friday for a brief visit to the strife-torn region of Darfur in western Sudan.
He had consultation with AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Said Djinnit and commanders of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
Djinnit, who is also on a three-day tour of the region, is due to visit camps of internally displaced persons in Nyala and South Darfur.
On Thursday he visited Zam Zam camp of IDPs a short distance from the AMIS headquarters in El Fashir.
AMIS Force Commander, Major-General Festus Okonkwo told the US official that there was light at the end of the tunnel as skirmishes among opposing parties, rebel groups and the Janjaweed militias had reduced during the past two months.
Darfurians, however, see the road to calm as still littered with rapes, fear and even retaliations by the local police.
Zoeleck would meet with tribal leaders before proceeding to Khartoum later in the day.