Arab League chief tours Darfur - Sudan urges Arabs to support Darfur mission - SPLMs Garang leaves Egypt for Washington

Excerpt from an AFP report at Aljazeera Sunday June 5, 2005:

Mussa, who toured Darfur on Friday and Saturday (two days after Zoellick) and met AU officials there, indicated that the league "fully supports the African Union in its endeavours in Darfur".

He said AU officials briefed him on the situation in the region and informed him that a semblance of calm was returning to certain areas of Darfur, particularly those where there was a visible AU presence.

The Arab League chief returned to Khartoum after touring the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

"I cannot see any justification for [international] concentration on differences between the Arab and African tribes in Darfur," he commented.

"We reject plans for driving a wedge between these two groups of tribes who are now mingling and intermarrying with each other," Mussa added.
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Sudan urges Arabs to support Darfur mission

Some news reports today are saying Sudan called on Arab countries yesterday to support efforts by the African Union to stabilise the situation in Darfur.

Excerpt from Peninsula On-line: "We express our gratitude to the Arab League for its positive contribution to efforts being exerted for addressing the Darfur crisis," said Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail. "And we are looking forward to a direct Arab support to the African Union and to the AU forces in Darfur," he added at a joint news conference with visiting Arab League secretary general Amr Muss.
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Note, report today says "Sudan says US stance changed".

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Garang to Washington for talks on peace implementation

John Garang, chief of SPLM, left Egypt Saturday for the US wrapping up an official visit.

Spokesman for SPLM said Garang will meet during his visit to the US with officials at the US Department of State and Congressmen for talks on a number of issues related to the implementation of Sudan peace agreement and the reconstruction of areas destroyed by war.

During his visit to Egypt, Garang held talks with President Husni Mubarak on Egypt's leading role to solicit regional and international support for reconstruction efforts in southern Sudan. - via MENA/ST June 4, 2005.