Sudan, neighbors to hold Darfur summit in Tripoli

Nov 20, 2006 (TRIPOLI) — Libya is to host a mini-summit Tuesday of Sudan and its neighbors, including the Central African Republic and Chad which have accused Sudan of backing rebellions against their governments.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (C) receives Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) and Sudan’s President Omar al-Beshir (R) as Libya hosts a two-day summit of African leaders on finding peace in Darfur, on May 16, 2005.

CAR President Francois Bozize, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki as well as Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir have confirmed their attendance, a Libyan official told AFP, adding that they were expected to be joined by Chadian President Idriss Deby Ito.

Officials in N’Djamena later confirmed that the Chadian leader was due to attend.

Issaias was expected to arrive in Tripoli later Monday, while the other leaders were expected Tuesday morning, the Libyan official said.

A three-and-a-half-year-old conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region has spilled over the border into eastern Chad and the northern CAR, prompting angry tirades from both governments against Beshir’s regime.

Khartoum in turn has accused N’Djamena of backing the rebels in Darfur.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has repeatedly sought to mediate between the estranged neighbours, holding a regional mini-summit in February after the Chadian government announced it was in a “state of belligerence” with Sudan.

The latest initiative follows a visit to Tripoli by Deby earlier this month.

(Reuters)