Bashir renews commitment to Abuja peace talks on Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug 21, 2004 (PANA) — Sudanese President Omar Hassan
el-Bashir has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to
resolving the conflict in the western region of Darfur,
the subject of an African Union (AU) peace talks in the
Nigerian capital, Abuja Monday.

The Khartoum government and the two main rebel groups in
Darfur, the Movement for Justice and Equality (MJE) and the
Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), have been invited to the
talks being hosted by AU chair and Nigerian President
Olusegun Obasanjo.

Last month, the two rebel groups walked out of AU-brokered
negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

But receiving Chadian Minister for Immigration and Security
Abdul Rahman Musa, who brought a message from his Chadian
counterpart Idris Deby Friday, Bashir assured that the
Abuja talks would be successful.

The UN Security Council has given Khartoum until the end
of this month to restore peace and security to Darfur, or
face possible sanctions.

Musa, who is expected to lead his country’s delegation to
the Abuja mediation talks, said in a press statement he had
received assurances from Bashir on how to end the Darfur
conflict.

“We are working to adopt a unified stance between the two
countries (Sudan and Chad) and the two presidents regarding
the Abuja talks,” he said.

An African Union delegation, led by AU Commission chairperson
Alpha Omar Konare is expected to attend the Abuja meeting.

More than 10,000 people have been reported killed and more than
one million displaced by the 17-month-old conflict in Darfur.