Sudanese President vows to end Darfur conflict

Sept 3, 2005 (Khartoum) — Ahead of the resumption of Darfur
peace talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, 15 September,
Sudanese President Omar Hassan el-Bashir has reaffirmed the
commitment of the Khartoum government to end the conflict
in his country’s western region.

In an audience he granted Friday to Salim Ahmed Salim, the
African Union (AU) chief mediator of the Abuja peace talks,
the Sudanese leader urged the AU to take necessary steps
to create an enabling atmosphere for the resumption of the
negotiations.

He said the AU should assume a firm position regarding
commitments by all parties to the ceasefire agreement and
on further negotiations.

Bashir cited the implementation of the North/South Sudan
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, as evidence of the government’s
sincerity towards achieving peace and stability in Darfur.

Salim, a former Secretary General of the defunct Organisation of
African Unity (OAU), said that during his visit to Darfur he
saw the situation in the troubled region, and expressed optimism
on the Abuja talks.

The AU has some 5,500 military observers and civilian police
monitoring an April 2004 ceasefire between Khartoum and Darfur
rebels, which has repeatedly been breached.

Salim said he met during his visit with leaders of the Darfur
rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM).

The Darfur crisis, which erupted in February 2003 has reportedly
killed some 180,000 people and displaced more than two million
others.