KHARTOUM, Feb. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sudanese government on Sunday stressed its refusal to any interference from outside the African continent in its Darfur issue.

    Sudanese Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry Najeeb el-Kheir said any effort to handle the Darfur conflict must come in accordance with the stance of the Sudanese government and the African Union on the issue.

    "Any outside work will be rejected," the Sudanese official told reporters.

    His remarks came in response to a call by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the European Union and NATO to step in the Darfur crisis.

    "It is AU's responsibility to ensure a just solution to the Darfur dispute," the official said.

    He attributed the current situation in Darfur to the failureof "the developed countries to fulfill their commitments to meetthe needs of the region."

    The Sudanese official said the AU has made effective contribution to improve the situation in Darfur, expressing hope that the AU would expand its mandate in peacekeeping across the region.

    He said the Sudanese government would cooperate with the AU to help it achieve its mission, urging the international community to fulfill its commitments to help the Sudanese government and the AU on the issue. Enditem