Mbeki calls on world community to be resolute on Darfur talks

Nov 7, 2007, 5:15 GMT

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.