Darfur rebel factions called to cooperate in peace talks

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative in Sudan, visiting the leaders of two rebel factions at odds in Darfur over the past few days, has stressed that they must work together for the sake of their people at the Abuja peace talks, which officially recommence tomorrow in the Nigerian capital.

"Jan Pronk has delivered a message to both SLM factions that Abuja is the only game in town," said a UN spokesman, referring to factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).

"The message has gone out to both faction leaders that the United Nations does not play sides," he continued. "That message is: you have to come together to negotiate for the sake of your people."

According to Annan's latest report, critical elements of a coordinated approach to peace in the strife torn region should include not only repairing the rift between the factions, which had serious engagements with Government forces in October, but also consultations between the African Union's (AU) mediating team and the Sudanese parties over a power-sharing commission for the region.