国际英语新闻：UN official urges better protection for children in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A UN official Sunday urged parties in the western Sudanese region of Darfur to ensure better protection for children.

    "We have reports on organized recruitment of children in Darfur," Radhika Coomarswamy, special representative of the UN Secretary General for children and armed conflict, told a press conference in Khartoum.

    She said the United Nations would work to end recruitment of children by Darfur armed movements and other parties, and ensure that all parties provide better protection for the children.

    "We have an action plan with the Sudanese government, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN to follow up conditions of the recruited children and work to demobilize and reintegrate them in local communities," she added.

    The UN official, meanwhile, said they had agreed with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which governs South Sudan, to demobilize children within its forces.

    Coomarswamy started her visit to Sudan at the invitation of the Sudanese authorities.

    Her talks with the Sudanese government, South Sudan government and local governments in the Darfur region focused on issues of recruitment of children and their involvement in the armed conflicts.