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Fresh Darfur peace talks agreed | Fresh Darfur peace talks agreed |
(9 minutes later) | |
Sudan and Darfur rebels will hold fresh peace talks in Libya on 27 October, the Sudanese government and the UN have announced in a joint statement. | Sudan and Darfur rebels will hold fresh peace talks in Libya on 27 October, the Sudanese government and the UN have announced in a joint statement. |
But the leader of the largest rebel group has told the BBC he will not attend while the conflict continues. | |
At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m displaced in Darfur since 2003. | At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m displaced in Darfur since 2003. |
Khartoum and pro-government Arab militias are accused of war crimes against the black African population. | Khartoum and pro-government Arab militias are accused of war crimes against the black African population. |
The announcement of talks follows a meeting between UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. | The announcement of talks follows a meeting between UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. |
"The government of Sudan pledges to contribute positively to secure the environment for the negotiations, fulfilling its commitment to a full cessation of hostilities in Darfur and agreed upon ceasefire," the statement said. | "The government of Sudan pledges to contribute positively to secure the environment for the negotiations, fulfilling its commitment to a full cessation of hostilities in Darfur and agreed upon ceasefire," the statement said. |
It said that the UN "expresses the hope that parties will co-operate fully" with UN and African Union (AU) mediators to ensure the success of the talks in Libya. | It said that the UN "expresses the hope that parties will co-operate fully" with UN and African Union (AU) mediators to ensure the success of the talks in Libya. |
'No point' | 'No point' |
Most of about a dozen rebel groups had already agreed to adopt a common negotiating position in talks with the government following a meeting last month in Tanzania, but the Sudan Liberation Movement leader boycotted those talks. | Most of about a dozen rebel groups had already agreed to adopt a common negotiating position in talks with the government following a meeting last month in Tanzania, but the Sudan Liberation Movement leader boycotted those talks. |
Darfur rebel's long game | Darfur rebel's long game |
Abdul Wahid el Nur, based in Paris, told BBC News there was no point in talks until the fighting stops. | Abdul Wahid el Nur, based in Paris, told BBC News there was no point in talks until the fighting stops. |
"We are not going to Libya to negotiate unless we can guarantee the security of our people. This is a failing process and the SLM is not a movement that fails," Abdul Wahid el Nur said. | "We are not going to Libya to negotiate unless we can guarantee the security of our people. This is a failing process and the SLM is not a movement that fails," Abdul Wahid el Nur said. |
Mr Ban has been pressing hard to get the splintered rebel groups back to the negotiating table. | Mr Ban has been pressing hard to get the splintered rebel groups back to the negotiating table. |
A peace agreement was signed in 2006. The Sudanese government backed the deal, but only one rebel faction signed up. | A peace agreement was signed in 2006. The Sudanese government backed the deal, but only one rebel faction signed up. |
In Sudan, Mr Ban also said plans to send a 26,000-strong UN-AU into Darfur next year were "on good track". | In Sudan, Mr Ban also said plans to send a 26,000-strong UN-AU into Darfur next year were "on good track". |
A beleaguered AU peacekeeping force now in Darfur has less than 6,000 deployed in the vast region. | A beleaguered AU peacekeeping force now in Darfur has less than 6,000 deployed in the vast region. |
'Shocked and humbled' | 'Shocked and humbled' |
On Wednesday, the UN chief visited a refugee camp in Darfur. | On Wednesday, the UN chief visited a refugee camp in Darfur. |
Ban Ki-Moon was mobbed by Darfur refugees on Wednesday | Ban Ki-Moon was mobbed by Darfur refugees on Wednesday |
He was greeted by thousands of people at Al Salaam camp, near El Fasher in North Darfur state, who chanted "Welcome, welcome Ban Ki-Moon". | He was greeted by thousands of people at Al Salaam camp, near El Fasher in North Darfur state, who chanted "Welcome, welcome Ban Ki-Moon". |
After the visit to the camp, which holds 48,000 people, Mr Ban said he had wanted to use his position to give the refugees hope. | After the visit to the camp, which holds 48,000 people, Mr Ban said he had wanted to use his position to give the refugees hope. |
"I was so shocked and humbled when I visited [the] camps. I was shocked at the poverty and hardship all these tens of thousands of people were undergoing," he said. | "I was so shocked and humbled when I visited [the] camps. I was shocked at the poverty and hardship all these tens of thousands of people were undergoing," he said. |
The welcome was in stark contrast to his earlier visit to the UN compound in El Fasher, when protesters gathered shouting anti-UN slogans. | The welcome was in stark contrast to his earlier visit to the UN compound in El Fasher, when protesters gathered shouting anti-UN slogans. |
Most of the refugees in Darfur are black Africans - although reports suggested those who staged the demo were chanting pro-government slogans in Arabic. | Most of the refugees in Darfur are black Africans - although reports suggested those who staged the demo were chanting pro-government slogans in Arabic. |
The protests were an illustration of how complicated the Darfur situation is, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban. | The protests were an illustration of how complicated the Darfur situation is, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban. |
On Friday, Mr ban heads to neighbouring Chad, where at least 200,000 Darfur refugees have fled. | On Friday, Mr ban heads to neighbouring Chad, where at least 200,000 Darfur refugees have fled. |