Sudan refused emergency evacuation of injured peacekeeper, who died same day, UN says

UNITED NATIONS – A new U.N. report says Sudan's government "refused to allow" an emergency medical evacuation for an injured peacekeeper who died the same day, the latest sign of worsening relations as Sudan's president wants the mission out of the country.

The secretary-general's latest report on the joint U.N.-African Union force in Darfur says Ban Ki-moon regrets the April 26 death of the Ethiopian peacekeeper, who was injured in an accident. The report says Sudan refused the evacuation because of security concerns.

The report also says talks among the U.N., AU and Sudan on an exit strategy for the more than 20,000-strong mission "have been paused" but gives no details.

At the same time, the new report says "there has been no tangible progress toward the resolution of the conflict in Darfur."