Sudanese President urges rebels to participate in the peace talks

January 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — President Omer Al-Bashir on Thursday called upon Darfur rebels to stop fighting and engage peace talks with the government in order to end the seven year conflict in western Sudan.

Al-Bashir made his call in Al-Fashir, the capital of north Darfur, at conclusion of the 21st National School Competition, which brought more than 7,000 students together for two-weeks of intellectual and athletic competition.

“We have promised to achieve peace, and we call on our brothers who are carrying arms to put down their weapons and make efforts to achieve peace, development and stability,” Al-Bashir said.

By the end of this month the mediation scheduled to hold peace negotiations between the government and the rebel groups in Doha. The talks would focus on a ceasefire and a framework agreement for the process.

However, main rebel groups may not take part in the talks for different reasons will other factions showed willingness to participate.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) which signed a goodwill agreement blames Khartoum for not implementing this agreement but also rejects the participation of the other groups except the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al Nour.

Al-Nour says he is willing to participate at any time in the Doha peace talks but asks Khartoum to provide security for the displaced persons.

President Al-Bashir pointed out the need to involve all the Darfuri to participate in the upcoming elections scheduled for April, saying “we want to organize free, credible and comprehensive elections, and it is important that all the people of Darfur participate in general elections.”

“We want the Darfuris to choose their representatives to the legislative councils and the governor for their region and to elect the president of the republic upon their free will,” he added.

“We want the coming elections to be a Sudanese model for the world in peaceful transition of power,” he further said.

(ST)