The U.N. chief won Chad's backing for a Darfur peace conference during a visit Friday to this central African nation that has been severely affected by the spillover of the conflict in neighboring Sudan, AP reported. President Idriss Deby, speaking to reporters after his talks with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, added he had discussed hosting a preliminary meeting for Darfur rebels before the peace conference set to start Oct. 27 in Libya. His meeting with Deby was «very fruitful and I am very encouraged by the strong support of President Deby for the Darfur peace conference and for the efforts that Chad is making so that this conference is a success,» Ban told reporters. «Chad is one of the important regional players in addressing the situation in Darfur,» Ban had said before going into his meeting with Deby.
