Sudan vice-president holds talks with rebel leader

NAIROBI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) — Sudanese First Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and a rebel leader met here Friday to find out ways for immediate stoppage of blood shedding in the war-torn country.

A statement issued after the meeting said Taha and Ahmed Ibrahim Diriage, the leader of Federal Alliance which is one of the rebel groups fighting in western Sudan, held detailed talks which touched upon the ongoing peace negotiations and national reconciliation.

“They agreed that resort to violence will not resolve the problems of the country. They also noted that the proper way of settling political problems and differences is the responsible political dialogue,” said the statement issued by the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi.

According to the statement, Diriage called for immediate stoppage of blood shedding as a prerequisite for resuming the negotiations.

He said that problems of Darfur region are of an economic and political nature and should be resolved through an all-Sudanese political dialogue.

The two leaders affirmed that cessation of fighting will pave the way for addressing and improving the humanitarian situation.

Earlier reports said that the Sudanese government and the principal rebel group, Sudan People’s Liberation Army, have reached agreement on the status of two of three disputed regions in the center of the country.

The reports quoted a mediator in peace talks in Kenya as saying Friday that the two sides have reached an agreement on Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile regions, but have not signed anything because they are still discussing the status of another region, Abyei.