Sudanese president invited to mini African summit on Darfur

KHARTOUM, Feb 8, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir received Tuesday an invitation to attend a mini African summit on Darfur due to be held on Feb. 15-16 in Ndjamena, capital of Chad, a Sudanese official said.

Chadian foreign minister Nagoum Yamassoum transferred the invitation from Chadian President Idriss Deby to El-Bashir, said the official.

El-Bashir appreciated Chad’s initiative to hold a mini African summit for a comprehensive solution to the conflict in Sudan’s westregion of Darfur.

Presidents of Chad, Sudan, Nigeria and the African Union Commissioner Alfa Aumar Konare will discuss necessary measures to ensure the Darfur conflicting sides to respect the ceasefire agreement.

Tens of thousands of people were killed in Darfur and 1.85 million people internally displaced or fled to neighboring Chad since rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese government in February 2003.