Sudan urges rebel leader to join Darfur peace process

June 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Eddin Attabani urged Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement to join the peace talks saying he should not miss the Doha peace process.

Attabani, who is in charge of the Darfur peace file, ended yesterday one- day visit to North Darfur State where he met with the internally displaced people (IDPs), the humanitarian community, and paid a visit to the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

He also addressed the state legislative assembly and stressed the need to involve the rebels who rejects to the current peace process sponsored by the Qatari government.

Ghazi also told local reporters that Al-Nur should join the Doha process and not miss the “historic opportunity.” He also added that the rebel leader and his supporters have an interest to show some flexibility.

Al-Nur refuses to join the peace process demanding Khartoum to disarm the pro-government militias and ensure the security of the IDPs who should return to their villages and homeland. The Paris exiled rebel also says they do not trust the government and want this vital issue to be resolved before to negotiate a lasting political settlement for the six year conflict.

The government top negotiator further said that the current talks with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement should focus on the political issues and reach a ceasefire agreement in order to involve the other rebel groups.

He further blamed JEM to focus only on the issue of the prisoners of war.

However JEM rebels say the government should honor the goodwill agreement signed last February adding that their concern also goes to the humanitarian situation.

Some members of the regional parliament urged the presidential adviser to provide security and basic services to Darfur people and to reconstruct the villages destroyed by the war. They also pointed to the need to involve the affected population in the peace process.

(ST)