UN chief to meet Sudanese leader

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United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to meet President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, in an effort to promote peace in Darfur.

The meeting in Khartoum follows a visit by Mr Ban to the province, where 200,000 people are said to have died over the last four years.

After visiting a refugee camp, he said he had been "shocked and humbled".

Mr Ban added that he would work to promote development and protect human rights in the region.

"We must help all of you return to your homes and lands," he told residents in the Al Salaam camp in North Darfur on Wednesday.

The Khartoum administration and pro-government Arab militias have been accused of war crimes against the black African population

HAVE YOUR SAY The visit will, along with other measures, help put pressure on the situation Nanci Hogan, Luton, UK <a class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7242&edition=2&ttl=20070905134009">Send us your comments</a>

The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Sudan says Mr Ban's message to Mr Bashir will be clear - that he wants to see a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force agreed by the UN deployed as soon as possible.

The UN/African Union force was approved by Khartoum following months of international pressure.

The other key message Mr Ban wants to get across is the urgent need for peace talks between the government and the Darfur rebels, our correspondent adds.

The Darfur conflict early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets.

The rebels say the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.

There are two main rebel groups - although peace talks have been complicated by splits in both groups, some along ethnic lines