Libyan mediator hopes Chad-Sudan resume contacts soon

18 April 2006 (KHARTOUM) — A Libyan envoy was holding talks in Khartoum on Tuesday in a bid to ease tensions between Chad and Sudan after N’Djamena accused Khartoum of backing a coup attempt and broke off ties.

Libyan Minister of African Affairs Ali Al Triki told Sudan’s Omdurman radio he was optimistic the row could be overcome and that the two neighbours would soon resume contacts.

“Our hope is high that we will overcome this problem,” he said after meeting Sudanese President Omar Al Beshir and Foreign Minister Lam Akol Monday.

Chad broke off diplomatic relations with Sudan last Friday, a day after an attack on N’Djamena by rebel forces seeking to topple Deby, who claims they are actively supported by Beshir’s regime.

Sudan has denied allegations of engineering the coup attempt.

Triki, who said he had also met Chadian President Idriss Deby on Sunday, voiced his hope that a committee set up during a mini-summit last February in Tripoli to monitor the two countries’ volatile border would be reactivated.

“I hope the follow-up committee will soon hold a meeting at the foreign ministers level to follow up the Tripoli summit agreement,” Triki told the radio.

“I have felt a good sign and a strong desire on both sides for finding a solution to the problem,” he added.

(ST)