Monday, February 04, 2008

Darfur Rebel Leader Wants Peace Talks in Netherlands

KHARTOUM, 05/02/08 - Rebels from the Sudanese province of Darfur have asked the Netherlands to host possible peace talks with the Sudanese government. The request will be discussed today with Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

Ahmed Abdelshafi, an important commander of the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLM/A), said yesterday that his organisation sent a letter to the Dutch ambassador in Khartoum last October with the request to hold peace talks in the Netherlands. "The Netherlands would be a good option for peace talks," he said.

Verhagen is currently in Sudan with Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders. Abdelshafi is to have a meeting with them this afternoon. He hopes that the ministers will come up with a response to his request. "We will see what the agenda of the Dutch ministers is." A spokesman for the foreign ministry in The Hague did not wish to anticipate the meeting yesterday. Read more >>>>>>>>>>>

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