Sudan confirms adjournment of Darfur peace talks

Nov 20, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — After denying the adjournment of Darfur peace talks, the Sudanese presidential advisor, and head of the government’s delegation to the talks confirmed the report for a date to be determined in the next days.

Majzoub al-Khalifa, said the coming round of peace talks set to begin on Monday has now been postponed for a date to be set later.

In press statement he made here on Sunday al-Khalifa said he was contacted by the Representative of the African Union in Addis Ababa who briefed him that the coming round of peace talks could not be held in the date fixed 21 November.

The peace talks are due to start on November 21, but AU sources have said they were likely to be delayed for logistical reasons.

Khalifa said he told the AU Representative that the delegation of the Government of National Unity was ready to go to the negotiations at the set date.

He said the AU representative has also briefed him that the AU was following efforts being exerted in the town of El-Fashir, Darfur, to bring closer viewpoints and to create a better climate for the upcoming round of talks.

Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi E. Frazer met Minni Menawi and Abdel Wahid Nur of the Sudan Liberation Army to convince the two SLA leaders, who both claim the presidency of the group, to form a joint position and attend AU-sponsored peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Khalifa expressed hope that the postponement would not continue for a long time and that the coming round would be held as soon as possible.

(ST)