Peace talks under way in Sudan
2005-06-15 13:56
Abuja - The African Union-mediated peace talks aimed at resolving the civil war in Sudan's western region of Darfur were to continue on Wednesday with further meetings with foreign partners, the AU said.
Negotiations between the Sudan's government, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) resumed in Nigeria on Friday after a six-month suspension because the parties accused each other of ceasefire violations.
AU mediators led by special envoy Dr Salim Ahmed Salim on Tuesday held a meeting behind closed doors with foreign donors, observers and facilitators to say where they had got in separate talks with the warring parties on the declaration of principle (DoP).
"Further talks will continue from 11:00 with our foreign partners, donors, facilitators and observers for their comments and inputs on the document (DoP)," said AU spokeserson Nouredine Mezni.
He said the partners which include the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Arab League, and the United States (US), Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Norway, had been "deeply involved in the entire peace process and they have to be carried along".
In the past three days, Salim has twice briefed the AU chairperson, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, on developments at the Darfur peace talks, he said.
Support for peace talks
US deputy secretary of state Robert Zoellick has also telephoned Salim to express his government's support for the talks and AU efforts to resolve the Darfur crisis, Mezni added.
He said the AU mediators has also presented a tentative programme for the endorsement of the partners.
He said consultations would go on despite the inability of the SLM to submit its contributions on the DoP. "They pleaded for more time to prepare their submission. But we expect them to do so as soon as possible," he said.
SLM spokesperson Ahmed Ibrahim said on Wednesday his side was ready with the document.
"We have concluded deliberations on the DoP. Our position is ready and we will submit it to the AU," he assured.
He said the rebel group was optimistic that the latest round of Abuja talks would be successful.
"There is no doubt that we are committed to lasting peace in Darfur. The present talks will definitely be fruitful because the AU mediation team has done a lot to soften the ground," he assured.
Humanitarian officials have warned the situation in Darfur is becoming increasingly desperate, with insufficient funding to deal with the crisis aggravated by drought, famine and the long-term effects of conflict.