AU chairman, Sudanese president discuss Darfur crisis

Dec 20, 2005 (LAGOS) — African Union (AU) chairman, Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday held a meeting in Abuja with Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir on efforts to bring lasting peace to troubled western Darfur region, an official statement said Tuesday.

“During their meeting, the two leaders conferred on areas of collaboration between their two countries and also discussed efforts to bring lasting peace to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan”, it said.

“Obasanjo reaffirmed his strong commitment to continuing to provide the platform for negotiations between the Sudanese government and other stakeholders in the Darfur crisis”, it said.

He proposed the holding a summit on the issue “early next month”, it added.

Nigeria is currently hosting a meeting between officials of the Sudanese government and representatives of the two main rebel groups from Darfur in Abuja.

Foreign and African mediators and observers are participating in the meeting being held in the Nigerian capital.

(AFP/ST)