Britain pledges full support to AU on Darfur peace talks

KHARTOUM, Mar 9, 2005 (Xinhua) — British ambassador to Sudan William Batty on Wednesday pledged Britain’s full support to the African Union (AU) on the Abuja talks aimed at achieving peace and stability in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Batty made the commitment after talks with Ghutbi el-Mahdi, political advisor to Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, according to the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA).

“What is taking place in the UN Security Council on Sudan will lead to the support of the AU and the resumption of the peace talks to help preserve human rights in the region,” Batty said.

A new round of peace talks, sponsored by the AU, is scheduled to start in the Nigerian capital later this month.

The AU is currently holding separate meetings with the Sudanese government and rebels in an attempt to find common ground after several rounds of talks failed to reach an effective ceasefire deal last year.

Mahdi, on his part, urged the international community to stop stirring up the Darfur issue and give time to Khartoum to fulfill its peace commitments.

He also called on the international community to support the Sudanese government’s efforts to realize stability and development in the largest African country.

Conflicts flared up in Sudan’s western Darfur region in February 2003 when two main rebel groups took up arms against the government, accusing it of negligence.