UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ON MONDAY URGED THE TWO SUDANESE REBEL GROUPS THAT WALKED OUT OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS TO AGREE TO END THE WAR IN SUDAN'S DARFUR REGION, DPA REPORTED. HE URGED THE SUDAN LIBERATION MOVEMENT/ARMY AND THE JUSTICE AND EQUALITY MOVEMENT "TO REDOUBLE EFFORTS AND TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITHOUT DELAY SO THAT THE SUFFERING AND DESTRUCTION IN DARFUR CAN BE BROUGHT TO AN END." ANNAN SAID THE SITUATION IN DARFUR CONTINUES TO BE "DIRE," WITH MILLIONS OF CIVILIANS REMAINING DEPENDENT ON INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVAL WHILE INSECURITY THREATENED DELIVERY OF RELIEF GOODS TO THOSE IN NEED. "THE CLEAR SOLUTION IS FOR THE PARTIES TO SEIZE THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE PEACE AND BEGIN THE TASK OF RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION," HE SAID. THE PEACE TALKS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA, WERE NEAR COMPLETION TO MEET AN APRIL 30 DEADLINE SET BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN NEW YORK. ON SUNDAY THE TWO SUDANESE GROUPS REJECTED THE FINAL PROPOSALS TO WRAP UP THE TALKS WHILE THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THEM. A THIRD SUDANESE GROUP APPARENTLY AGREED TO THE PROPOSALS. THE TALKS WERE EXTENDED FOR 48 HOURS WHILE AFRICAN UNION OFFICIALS, WHO MEDIATED THE NEGOTIATIONS, WERE TRYING TO CONVINCE THE TWO GROUPS TO RETURN. THE 15-NATION COUNCIL, WHICH IMPOSED THE DEADLINE, WAS NOT IN SESSION ON MONDAY. A FAILURE TO REACH A PEACE AGREEMENT COULD TRIGGER THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO SEND PEACEKEEPING TROOPS INTO THE REGION. THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE MISSION, WHICH IS OPPOSED TO BY THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT. A UN FORCE WOULD TAKE OVER FOR A 7,000-STRONG AFRICAN UNION FORCE, WHICH HAS BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE FIGHTING AND PROTECT CIVILIANS. -
