US Frazer holds unity meeting with Darfur rebel SLM leaders
Nov 19, 2005 (ALFASHER) — A meeting to unify Darfur rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM’s) factions was organized by the AU and the US in the regional capital of North Darfur Al-Fasher.
According to the state-run news agency SUNA, the meeting was headed by the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer who is currently visiting the Sudan.
The African mediators and the US officials expressed worry about the rebel splits.
The United States government does “feel the urgency” of the ongoing situation in Sudan, Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer told the U.S. Senate November 17, just hours before departing for her third trip to that country in the past month.
The 7th round of the Abuja talks was adjourned to 28 November instead of 21 November, the AU said in a statement.
Abdelwahed Mohamed Nur arrived in Al-Fashir town Saturday afternoon by a helicopter of the African Union coming from Derbat area. While Minni Arko Minawi, arrived from Mehajreyah locality on board a similar plane of the African Union.
The two planes landed at Al-Fashir Airport and were received by officials of the African Union.
The government authorities assumed provision of the necessary security protection to the two delegations from the airport till the premises of the African Union mission, where a closed meeting was held that lasted for more than three hours.
Sources said that the Sudanese authorities permitted this meeting with rebel SLM leaders in support of the AU-US initiative to unify the rebel movement.
(ST)