UN envoy urges ceasefire during Darfur peace talks

October 11, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The UN special envoy to Darfur called on the Sudanese government and rebel factions Thursday to begin upcoming peace talks with a ceasefire agreement and urged both groups to make concessions during the negotiations.

Jan Eliasson’s visit to Sudan was focused on generating momentum for the peace discussions, which are scheduled to take place in Libya on Oct. 27. With at least one major rebel figure already planning to boycott the talks, their prospects are uncertain.

“The parties should put an end to the violence in the Darfur region as a first step in the coming negotiations,” Eliasson told reporters in Khartoum. “Fighting should not be the means for achieving political goals.” He added.

The U.N. envoy said mediators would issue invitations for the peace talks in the coming days, but lamented announcements by rebel leaders who do not plan to attend the meeting.

A key Darfur rebel chief, Abdzlwahid al-Nur, has refused to attend talks if they are held in Libya. Khalil Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement is also threatening to boycott unless the U.N. and African Union can persuade the rival Sudan Liberation Army to unite its splinter factions for the negotiations.

At least 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced since ethnic African rebels in Darfur took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government, accusing of discrimination and neglect.

(AP)