United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Saturday an immediate end to hostilities in the troubled Darfur region in an appeal coming as peace talks were about to get underway in Libya, according to DPA. In a speech in New York, Ban said that only by such a move could the negotiating parties show that they are willing to end peoples' suffering in the Darfur region. Because he was not personally able to attend the start of the talks in Sirte, Libya, Ban sent his message via a special envoy, Jan Eliasson. The UN chief said that the plans for a robust peace force comprised of UN and African Union troops would contribute to restoring security in the region. But there could be no military solution to the four and one-half year conflict. Only through political dialogue and comprehensive talks could there be a comprehensive and viable solution, Ban said in his speech.
