Barroso tries gentler approach in Sudan.

By Jonathan Steele EL FASHER, Sudan--The president of the European commission, JosE[umlaut] Manuel Barroso, told Sudan at the weekend that Darfur needed a "stronger and more effective" international presence but stopped short of insisting that only UN troops could prevent a further collapse of security.On the first visit by a major aid donor to Khartoum since Sudan's President, Omar Al-Bashir, warned the UN security council last month that the country would not accept UN troops, Mr Barroso's tone was markedly more conciliatory than that of Washington or London.His public remarks made no mention of the contentious UN resolution 1706, which called on Sudan to accept UN troops. Although Mr Barroso insisted he was not "mediating" between Sudan and the US, he repeatedly pointed out that Sudan had refused to agree to UN troops and that "we need a political settlement".George Bush has suggested that UN troops might invade Sudan if Mr Bashir goes on refusing to give them a green light. Tony Blair has offered a package of debt relief and a reduction of sanctions if Sudan accepts, but a tightening of the screw if Mr Bashir still says no.Mr Barroso's line was similar to that of the UN deputy secretary-general, Mark Malloch Brown, who said last week: "The megaphone diplomacy coming out of Washington and London, 'you damn well are going to let the UN deploy and if you don't, beware the consequences' isn't plausible. Tony Blair and George Bush need to get beyond this posturing and grandstanding."During a brief trip to Darfur, Mr Barroso said he told Mr Bashir on Saturday that the "status quo is unsustainable". "We need a clearer commitment to help the humanitarian agencies, to support the African Union mission now, and to de-escalate the violence," he said. "We need a more credible presence of the international community in humanitarian, political and military security terms." But he did not call for it to be based on UN 1706.The EU is the biggest financial supporter of the African Union's 7,000 troops in Darfur. The AU mandate has been given a last-minute extension until December 31. Mr Barroso said he hoped the next three months would be used to beef up its presence, not let it run down on the assumption that it would be replaced by UN forces. UN diplomats in Khartoum are hoping for a compromise to allow the AU to stay with a UN mandate and some non-African logistical support. A*The GuardianBarroso tries gentler approach in Sudan

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