Khartoum delegation in talks with exiled opposition front

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug 25, 2004 (PANA) — While peace talks continue in Abuja,
Nigeria between Khartoum and Darfur rebels, a Sudanese government
delegation led by Federal Administration minister Nafie Ali Nafie
left Wednesday for Cairo for separate talks with the opposition
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of Sudanese political parties
based in Asmara, Eritrea.

Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament Abdul-Bassit
Sabdarat, who is a member of the government delegation told the
Sudanese news agency (SUNA) that the talks being moderated by the
Egyptian authorities are aimed at reaching a binding, and
eventually comprehensive peace agreement.

Sabdarat said Khartoum was open to the discussion of all issues.

Elsewhere, the Sudanese government began talks last Monday in
Abuja, Nigeria with the Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and
Equality Movement of Darfur under the mediation of African Union
chairman and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo said Tuesday that the Sudanese government and rebels had
adopted an agenda for the talks aimed at reaching a lasting
solution on the conflict in Darfur.

Khartoum is under intense international pressure to rein in the
Arab Janjaweed militia, widely accused of committing atrocities
against Black ethnic groups in Darfur.

The UN has given Sudan until the end of August to ensure the
security of the people of Darfur or face possible international
sanctions.