Darfur’s Minawi arrives in Egypt

July 5, 2006 (CAIRO) — Minni Minawi, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), arrived here on Wednesday leading a delegation of his movement on a visit to Egypt.

Minni Minawi, who heads the Sudan Liberation Movement, was the only one of three rebellion leaders to sign the peace deal on 5 May with the Sudanese government.

In statements upon arrival, Minawi underlined the importance of the Arab League’s (AL) role together with that of Egypt in establishing stability in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Minawi’s several days’ visit, the first of its kind, comes within the framework of the SLM’s keenness on benefiting from the AL and Egyptian efforts on maintaining stability and security in Sudan.

Minawi is to meet during his visit with AL chief Amr Musa and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.

Minawi visit is part of Egypt’s drive at the regional and international levels to take serious and fruitful steps on the road to build peace in Darfur.

Ambassador Masum Marzuq, the director of Sudan Department at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, welcomed the SLM leader at the Cairo airport.

(ST)