Darfur Peace Talks Start Amid New Fighting
Darfur peace talks kicked off four days late Monday amid mounting international concern about a resurgence of fighting in western Sudan.Previous talks between the government and rebels dragged on for three weeks only to collapse with no deal, but pressure is mounting on both sides meeting in Nigeria to ease the plight of 1.5 million civilians made destitute by the conflict. “This time people are more willing to discuss,” said Jan Pronk, the United Nations secretary-general’s special representative in Sudan. Each side accused the other of breaking a cease-fire as delegates sat down for talks in Abuja after a delay caused by a transport mix-up that left rebel negotiators stranded across the continent. Meetings are expected to last for two weeks.Full Story