Security Council urges Sudanese parties to resume Abuja peace talks

New York- UN (PANA) -- The UN Security Council has urged the Sudanese government and the two rebel groups in Darfur to return to peace talks 15 September as requested by the African Union (AU).
The Khartoum government and the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have held  several rounds of peace talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja mediated by the AU.
In July, the parties signed a Declaration of Principles to guide further dialogue at resolving issues of power and wealth sharing in a comprehensive peace settlement to end the war that erupted February 2003 in Sudan's western region.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and created millions of refugees and displaced persons.
   The Security Council, in a statement in New York Tuesday after consultations expressed continued support for the AU mediation and urged the Sudanese parties to negotiate constructively.
   "Only through political solution can durable peace and reconciliation be achieved in Darfur," the statement noted.
   The Council expressed the hope that the comprehensive peace agreement reached between the government and southern Sudanese groups would impact positively on the Darfur talks.
   "Members of the Security Council remain firmly committed to the cause of peace in all Sudan, including through the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur," the statement added.
   The Council also reiterated its support for the African Union peace Mission in Darfur.
The deployment of African troops has helped to mitigate the crisis in some parts of Darfur where armed militia elements have been accused of attacking civilians and committing other war crimes.