Vice-president lauds AU’s efforts to restore peace in Darfur

Text of report by Sudanese news agency Suna website, BBC Monitoring Middle East.

Aug 30, 2005 (Khartoum) — The first vice-president and president of the southern Sudan government, Lt-Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit, has lauded the great efforts being made by the chief negotiator in the Abuja talks, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, to bring peace and stability to Darfur.

In a meeting today with Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, the first vice-president reiterated the government’s commitment to finding a peaceful solutions to the Darfur issue, in order to conclude the peace process in the country.

In a statement to Suna, Dr Salim said he had discussed the issue of bringing peace to Darfur with Lt-Gen Salva Kiir.

He said that it was the urgent desire of the people to see that a suitable atmosphere for the repatriation of the displaced to their regions was put in place, so as to bring about stability in all parts of Sudan.

Dr Salim lauded his meeting with the first vice-president describing it as successful and constructive.

[Passage omitted: more praise for Salva Kiir]