African Union urges Sudan to cooperate with monitors in Darfur

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Sep 19 (PANA) — Without admitting that its monitors in Darfur were facing hostility from the Sudanese regime, the African Union has urged Khartoum to let its mission act more effectively in the violence-torn region.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 16th meeting here, the
AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) demands full cooperation of
the regime with the AU Mission in the Sudan (AMIS).

Reiterating the need for the AU to continue playing a lead role
in searching for a solution to the Darfur conflict, the Council
has expressed appreciation for the support given by the UN and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Though the inter-Sudanese peace talks on the crisis have been
adjourned as a result of a deadlock over the disarming of the
opposing parties, the Council has urged all sides to remain
committed to the negotiation process.

The talks started 23 August 2004 in the Nigerian capital, Abuja,
and were adjourned Friday for four weeks.

Meanwhile, the PSC has urged the Sudanese government and its
opponents in Darfur, namely the Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), to comply
with the N’djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement they signed
on 8 April 2004.