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New bid to solve Darfur impasse No deal in Africa's Darfur talks
(1 day later)
Several African leaders are meeting in Libya to try to find a solution to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. Several African leaders have ended a meeting in Libya without announcing a breakthrough in efforts to halt the violence in Sudan's Darfur region.
The beefing up of an African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur and the possible involvement of the UN is expected to top the agenda. A Libyan official said the leaders rejected pressure on Sudan to accept international peacekeepers.
Chad and Central African Republic both accuse Sudan of attacking them from Darfur and this will also be discussed. The UN Security Council is to meet on Wednesday to discuss plans for the UN to help African Union troops in Darfur.
The leaders of Sudan, Chad, CAR, Egypt and Eritrea are attending the talks in Libya's capital, Tripoli. A BBC correspondent says the Libya meeting did see an agreement to ease tension between Chad and Sudan.
UN role A similar agreement was reached earlier this year.
This is the fifth African mini-summit to be hosted in Libya to try to resolve Sudan's problems and its growing conflicts with its neighbours, the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says. The two countries accuse each other of backing rebel groups but the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says their leaders agreed to respect a truce.
There has been a sharp increase in violence in eastern Chad in the past month, with Chad accusing Sudan of sending pro-government militias across the border from Darfur.
Quick guide: Darfur Q&A: Peacekeeping in DarfurQuick guide: Darfur Q&A: Peacekeeping in Darfur
According to Libya's head of African affairs Ali Trekki, the agenda will concentrate on how to improve the performance of the 7,000 African Union troops already stationed in Darfur, as well as to seek to increase that number to 17,000. The leaders of Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Egypt and Eritrea attended the talks in Libya.
Speaking in Geneva, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was hopeful that the meeting would help resolve Sudan's outstanding issues about the size and make-up of the peacekeeping force. "They want an African solution to their problems without external intervention and without putting pressure on Sudan," said Libya's head of African affairs Ali Triki.
Last week, Mr Annan said after talks on Darfur in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, that a compromise had been reached for a hybrid UN-AU force in Sudan's western region. He did not mention the issue of how large the peacekeeping force should be.
There are currently 7,000 African Union troops. Sudan is happy for this to be increased to 12,000 but the UN is pushing for 17,000.
Last week, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that a compromise had been reached for a hybrid UN-AU force in Sudan's western region.
But Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said shortly afterwards that "there should be no talk about a mixed force" and that there would be no UN troops in Darfur.But Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said shortly afterwards that "there should be no talk about a mixed force" and that there would be no UN troops in Darfur.
Mr Akol said that the UN would simply provide technical support.Mr Akol said that the UN would simply provide technical support.
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is persistently discouraging the involvement of UN peacekeepers in Darfur, calling them a colonising force, our correspondent says.
Trading accusationsTrading accusations
In recent months, the conflict in Darfur has spread to both Chad and CAR.In recent months, the conflict in Darfur has spread to both Chad and CAR.
They both accuse Sudan of supporting rebellions in their countries.They both accuse Sudan of supporting rebellions in their countries.
Chad says it will send troops to CAR to help beat the rebels.
Khartoum, in turn, has said N'djamena is backing rebels in Darfur.Khartoum, in turn, has said N'djamena is backing rebels in Darfur.
More than 200,000 people have died in three years of conflict in Darfur.More than 200,000 people have died in three years of conflict in Darfur.
About three million have fled their homes.About three million have fled their homes.