Johannesburg - South African President Thabo Mbeki urged the
world to stand tough against rebels in Sudan who refuse to take part
in peace talks as he met with visiting Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir.
'The international community should take firm action against
anybody who willfully absents themselves from these negotiations,
choosing to engage in violent actions against the innocent people of
Darfur,' Mbeki said Tuesday night at a dinner in Cape Town in
al-Bashir's honour.
Some key rebel leaders have refused to join talks in Libya on
establishing peace in Sudan's western region of Darfur, which are
being mediated by the United Nations and African Union.
'All necessary steps should be taken to ensure the security of the
civilian population and the internally displaced people in Darfur,'
Mbeki said, adding that a UN-African Union peacekeeping force should
be deployed immediately.
South Africa has peacekeepers in Sudan as part of an ill-equipped
African Union force and plans to take part in the joint force.
The conflict in Darfur, which has pitted the Muslim-led government
in Khartoum and Janjaweed militias against Christian and animist
groups, has killed more than 300,000 people since 2003.
Al-Bashir, who has been accused by members of the international
community of stirring up the conflict, said in South Africa that he
was committed to peace.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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