UN envoy says work in Darfur difficult

Feb 13, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The UN envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson said his task to try to help reduce violence in the region and bring about a ceasefire is extremely difficult, Radio Sweden reported on Tuesday.

The former Swedish foreign minister is in Sudan this week and has already met the country’s foreign minister. He is also having talks with President Omar al Bashir.

On Wednesday he will move on to Darfur itself and try to persuade rebel groups to begin peace talks, but Eliasson said to the Swedish Broadcaster that the biggest problem is getting the different factions together to form one negotiation party.

Since 2003, 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur and over 2 million have fled their homes in the conflict between Arab militias.

(Xinhua)