Chair of AU fears Darfur crisis could spill into Sudan's neighbours - Congo's President urges international community to react

After an audience with Congo's President, the Chair of African Union (AU), Alpha Oumar Konare, said today on Congo Brazzaville State Radio an "urgent" solution must be found to crisis in Darfur to prevent a spill-over effect that could destabilise the entire region involving Sudan, Chad, West and Central Africa through the DR Congo and even the Great Lakes region.

Presidents Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo) and Idriss Deby (Chad), urged the AU to find a quick solution to the crisis.

At last week's summit of the Economic Community of Central African States in N'djamena, Chad, Nguesso, whose country has troops in the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, denounced rebels destabilising Chad and urged the international community to react before it was too late.

Full report (AngolaPress) Brazzaville, Congo, Jan 10, 2006.