Fatchett to meet with Sudanese officials on Monday

The British minister of state for the middle Easter affairs Derek Fatchett will arrive on Monday in Khartoum on a five-day visit that comprises Sudan and Kenya.

During his visit he will meet with officials in the Sudanese government and southern rebel leaders to discuss ratifying a truce between the government and rebel leader John Garang's forces.

Sudanese sources said that Fatchett will meet with Kenyan officials and that his visit won the support of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) which sponsors mediation between Khartoum and John Garang's rebel fighters.