Chadian, Libyan leaders hold talks over Sudan
June 7, 2008 (N’DJAMENA) — The Chadian president paid yesterday a one-day visit to Tripoli for talks with the Libyan leader over the Sudanese accusations of Chadian support to the rebel coup on the Sudanese capital last month.
According to the Chadian presidency website, the President Idriss Deby Ito held talks with the Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi on the Darfur crisis and the current tension between Khartoum and N’djamena.
Deby informed “the Libyan Guide about the deterioration of relations between Chad and Sudan, the bellicose attitude of Omer Hassan El-Bashir marked by repeated attacks against Chad” said the Chadian presidency in a statement published on its official website.
The president Deby denied the Sudanese accusations that Chad had provided the Justice and Equality Movement with the necessary means and support to carry out its attack against the Sudanese government in Khartoum on May 10.
“These accusations are only intended to obscure the tragedy that the Khartoum regime continues to perpetrate in the western Sudanese province.”
“Muammar Gaddafi called on Chad and Sudan to promote dialogue to resolve the dispute between them.” the website reported.
The Sudanese president reiterated during a meeting with the visiting UN Security Council delegation on June 5 his accusations to the Chadian government on its involvement in the foiled attack on Khartoum.
Bashir told the UN delegation that the continued support of the Chadian rebellion in Darfur meant to undermine the international community’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Darfur.
However different western sources point figures at the direct involvement of Libya in the attack. They also say that Khartoum knows very well this fact but prefer for the time being to not open a new front and fears that any accusation to Tripoli could open the doors for more support.
Since three years the two neighbouring countries trade accusations over support to the Chadian and Sudanese rebel groups.
The tension between Chadian and Sudan is identified by many analysts and UN officials as hindering factor to the resolution of Darfur crisis. They urge efforts to restore their bilateral relations in order to pave the way for the resolution of Darfur crisis.
(ST)