Chad leader’s absence delays Darfur talks-official

Feb 20, 2007 (TRIPOLI) — Talks in Libya between Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Darfur rebels will not get under way until Wednesday morning because Chad’s President Idriss Deby has not arrived yet, a Libyan official said.

The talks are aimed at advancing peace efforts in Darfur, where violence has caused one of the world’s most worst humanitarian crises and prompted the United States to accuse Khartoum’s government of genocide. Sudan denies the accusation.

The discussions will also be attended by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and U.N. and African Union envoys, a Libyan official said earlier.

(Reuters)