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Sudan truce pledge as talks loom Sudan truce pledge as talks loom
(about 2 hours later)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has said he is ready to call a ceasefire with rebel groups ahead of peace talks next month over the Darfur region.Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has said he is ready to call a ceasefire with rebel groups ahead of peace talks next month over the Darfur region.
Talks are scheduled in Libya on 27 October to try to end a conflict that has left more than 200,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. He was speaking in Rome, where he met the Pope, who voiced his "heart-felt hope" for the success of the talks.
Several ceasefires have previously been agreed in Darfur but none has held. Several ceasefires have previously been agreed but none has ended the violence, in which some 200,000 have died.
Meanwhile, Darfur rebel leader Suleiman Jamous has left Sudan to seek medical treatment in Kenya.Meanwhile, Darfur rebel leader Suleiman Jamous has left Sudan to seek medical treatment in Kenya.
He had been in a UN compound for 14 months, with the Sudanese authorities threatening to arrest him as soon as he left the protection of the UN.He had been in a UN compound for 14 months, with the Sudanese authorities threatening to arrest him as soon as he left the protection of the UN.
President Bashir last month promised to let him get medical treatment in Kenya during talks with UN chief Ban Ki-moon.President Bashir last month promised to let him get medical treatment in Kenya during talks with UN chief Ban Ki-moon.
Actress Mia Farrow had offered to swap places with Mr Jamous.Actress Mia Farrow had offered to swap places with Mr Jamous.
'Horror''Horror'
Speaking after meeting the Italian PM in Rome, Mr Bashir said he hoped the Libya talks would bring "a final peace". Speaking after meeting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Mr Bashir said he hoped the Libya talks would bring "a final peace".
"We stated that we are prepared for a ceasefire for the start of negotiations in order to create a positive climate conducive to a positive end to the negotiations.""We stated that we are prepared for a ceasefire for the start of negotiations in order to create a positive climate conducive to a positive end to the negotiations."
The talks, in the Libyan capital Tripoli, will be with Darfur rebels who refused to sign an earlier peace accord in Nigeria in 2006. Mr Bashir met Italy's PM and later visits the PopeMr Bashir also said he had asked Mr Prodi to urge European countries to put pressure on all of Darfur's rebel leaders to attend the talks, due to start in Tripoli on 27 October.
Talks with rebels are due to start in Libya on 27 October One of the most influential Darfur leaders, Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, is in Paris and says he will not attend talks until the fighting stops.
Two of the several rebel groups in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement and a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, recently said they had been attacked by government forces, although Sudan denied the allegation. Two of the several rebel groups in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement and a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, recently said they had been attacked and bombed by government forces, although Sudan denied the allegation.
The African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan said the reports of attacks were "astonishing" given the importance attached to the talks in Libya.The African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan said the reports of attacks were "astonishing" given the importance attached to the talks in Libya.
Mr Bashir is currently on a three-day visit to Rome. This is the first time that a leader of Sudan, an Islamic republic, has met the Pope.
He met Italian PM Romano Prodi early on Friday and will later hold a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the pontiff's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Benedict XVI has said he will do whatever is possible to end what has called the "horror" of Darfur.
The Pope has said he will do whatever is possible to end what has called the "horror" of Darfur. "Very positive views were expressed concerning fresh peace negotiations for Darfur," the Vatican said following the 25-minute meeting.
"It is the Holy See's heartfelt hope that these negotiations prove successful in order to put an end to the suffering and insecurity of those peoples."
Italy has been asked to take part in the strengthened UN peacekeeping force to be set up to police Darfur shortly.Italy has been asked to take part in the strengthened UN peacekeeping force to be set up to police Darfur shortly.
Darfur has been wracked by conflict for more than four years.Darfur has been wracked by conflict for more than four years.
Sudan's government denies charges it backs Arab militias accused of atrocities against the region's black African population.Sudan's government denies charges it backs Arab militias accused of atrocities against the region's black African population.