The Sudanese government has announced it will accept a new deal on a joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. The accord would put at least 20,000 troops and police on the ground. Critics say Sudan is likely to backtrack or impose new conditions, but Sudanese envoy Mutrif Siddig said this is not the case.

Sudanese envoy Mutrif Siddig: “So we have full understanding we are not now posing or setting any conditions for the operations. It will operate according to the agreed understanding between the three parties.”