A senior Sudanese police official says the Sudanese government has deployed 5000 police in its Darfur region.

Vice Police Inspector General Hussein Osman made the announcement in Khartoum on Monday. He added the number will be increased to 6000 in a few days. Their major task is to maintain law and order in the region, CRIENGLISH.com reported Tuesday.

He noted some local police stations have been reconstructed and re-opened. The government says it will provide them with communication tools and other equipment.

(CRI August 3, 2004)