KHARTOUM, Oct. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sudanese government has informed the African Union (AU) of its rejection of an offer by the US Embassy in Khartoum to use US aircraft to airlift the AU's mission to Darfur, the Arabic-language Al-Hayat daily reported Tuesday.

    The Sudanese Foreign Ministry informed the AU that the offer "must be delivered through the AU as the sponsor of the African monitors mission in Darfur," Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail was quoted as saying.

    "We will allow the American aircraft only through the AU according to particular agreements and guarantees between Sudan and the United States so as not to violate Sudan's national security," said the minister.

    The US Embassy in Khartoum has recently delivered an offer to Sudan's government, asking for permission to use two US aircraft to send the AU monitoring mission to Darfur.

    Ismail said that the AU supported the Sudanese government's stance toward the US action, renewing Sudan's commitment to cooperating with the AU to help the AU's mission reach Darfur.

    The minister also described the US move as a kind of propaganda delusion practised by the US to divert the international community's attention away from what was happening in Iraq and the Palestinian territories.

    Some 150 AU ceasefire monitors have already been in Darfur's towns along with more than 300 troops to protect them. According to a recent agreement between Sudan and the AU, the number of monitorsand troops would be increased.

    The US Air Force has announced earlier that it would begin airlifting AU troops to Darfur this week.

    More than 3,000 AU personnel will be deployed in camps to monitor the ceasefire and Sudanese police. Enditem