KHARTOUM, Nov 3: Allowing UN peacekeepers into Sudan would create an Iraq-style debacle, Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir said on Friday as he thanked China for its support in blocking the US-led push to send in troops.

“If UN troops are accepted, the impact will be like having the coalition forces in Iraq ... and Iraq is completely destroyed,” Mr Beshir told a press briefing through a translator.

“If coalition forces enter (Darfur), we can imagine what will happen, so our final assesment is that it's better to refuse than accept.

“We don't want a stand-off with the international community but we don't want to be used by some countries either.” The Sudanese president thanked China for its `understanding’ and support at the UN Security Council in saying that Sudan's consent was needed to deploy peacekeeping troops in the war-torn western region of Darfur.—Reuter