Darfur peace talks resumed in Doha

01/25/10 | Xinhua

DOHA - A new round of peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel movements of Darfur kicked off on Sunday in Doha, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

A statement issued Sunday said a delegation representing the national unity government of Sudan under Sudanese Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salahuddin and a delegation of the Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) arrived in the Qatari capital to start talks under the auspices of chief negotiator for the United Nations and African Union Djibril Bassole.

However, the report said the delegation representing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the ruling partner, and other opposition factions, are yet to arrive there to join the talks.

"All parties concerned will engage in expanded talks in preparation for starting negotiations on the final resolution," the statement said.

The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on Thursday urged the conflicting parties in Sudan's restive Darfur region to sign a lasting and comprehensive peace deal to solve the crisis.