Albright : rejects Egyptian - Libyan solution to Sudan problem

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said today that the US supports the IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) initiative for peace in Sudan.

She said that during her recent visit to Africa, which did not include a visit to Sudan but did include a meeting in Kenya with rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement leader John Garang, that she "became increasingly convinced" that the IGAD initiative is the "only way" to deal with reconciliation in Sudan.

She said the US is "not supporting other alternative solutions," in reference to the Egyptian - Libyan peace initiative, saying that the IGAD initiative is the only one that assures a comprehensive solution and not just a solution to the problems in northern Sudan.

Towards that end, Albright said "we are going to be funding some of the secretariat functions of IGAD to invigorate it."