Officials to Eritrea to prepare for East Sudan talks

April 25, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — A high-ranking government delegation will be travelling to the Eritrean capital, Asmara, today to discuss preparations for talks on eastern Sudan due to be held next May, as well as on normalizing ties with Eritrea.

The delegation is due to meet leaders of the rebel Eastern Front (EF) tomorrow to agree on schedule and the agenda for the talks.

A high ranking EF official, who requested anonymity, told Al-Ayyam that the government delegation would hold consecutive meetings with leaders of the east and the Eritrean government.

He said all preparations had been finalized on the part of the EF to enter into negotiations with the government.

After long hessitation, Sudan agreed this month to engage peace talks with Eastern Front under Eritrean mediation.

The Eastern Front complains of marginalization by the Khartoum government, which it accuses of exploiting natural resources such as oil, natural gas, gold and other minerals at the expense of the local population.

(ST)