US urges Sudanese parties to finalize Darfur peace deal

April 30, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The United States on Sunday urged warring parties to clinch a peace deal to end violence in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region as negotiations reached a critical stage.

“The parties have made progress, and we and the AU (African Union) believe it is possible for them to reach an accord,” Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said.

“We are urging the parties to finalise the agreement right away.”

The senior diplomat’s plea came as mediators in Abuja, Nigeria extended a negotiating deadline by 48 hours in a bid to salvage a proposed peace agreement after two rebel groups said they would refuse to sign the deal in its present form.

The talks between rebels and the Sudanese government are aimed at ending the conflict in Darfur, which has claimed 300,000 lives and displaced 2.4 million persons in three years of fighting.

Zoellick said that the negotiations had shown promise but warned against allowing the talks to collapse.

“Abuja negotiators must keep their eye on the vital goal: achieving peace in Darfur so that Darfurians can return to their homes and live in a secure peace that offers hope,” he said.

“Much good work has been done, and should not be allowed to slip away. Peace must be achieved in Abuja.”

The US Government and human rights groups describe a campaign by government-backed Arab militia against Darfur’s black African tribes as genocide.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Washington and other US cities yesterday, demanding decisive action by the US and other governments to halt the carnage in Darfur.

Zoellick called the protests “commendable”.

(ST)