African Union (AU) special envoy and chief mediator for the
Darfur peace talks, Salim Ahmed Salim, met in Addis Ababa with
Sudanese Vice President Ali Ousman Mohammed Taha on Monday,
according to a press release, issued from the AU headquarters on
Tuesday.
Salim and Taha reviewed the outcome of the high-level
consultations, which took place over the weekend in Nigeria's
capital Abuja, at the initiative of Congolese President, also AU
current chairman, Denis Sassou Nguesso, said the release.
It said they also exchanged views on the progress made in the
ongoing negotiations and on how to overcome the outstanding issues
in the peace process.
The Sudanese vice president assured the AU special envoy of his
continued commitment to the peace process, and the preparedness of
the Sudanese government to work with the parties in the
negotiations to find a lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur,
it added.
Clashes flared up in Darfur in February 2003 when local farmers
took up arms against the Sudanese government, accusing it of
neglecting the barren area. Thousands of people have been killed
and more displaced in the violence.
Rounds of peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur
rebels in Abuja have failed to yield fruits.
The AU currently has about 7,000 personnel, including
peacekeepers and observers, in Darfur.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)
