Sudan president blasts Darfur rebels

Via UPI Jan 9 - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir called on Darfur rebels to return to negotiations, accusing them of being the enemies of peace.

In a speech to the nation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of annual pilgrimage to Mecca, al-Bashir said Tuesday, "Sudan's battle is that of development and reconstruction which necessitates great vitality, content spirits and national unity."

He stressed Sudan cannot achieve development without "abandoning warring and terrorism, preventing strife, dropping arms and forgetting enmity and hatred."

He charged, however, that certain bad-intentioned parties are seeking to incite trouble and strife.

"As battle fronts calmed down in the south of the country, new fronts were enflamed by the enemies of peace and unity in another dear part of our country, notably Darfur," he said.

He accused rebel groups in Darfur of obstructing efforts to reach a peaceful settlement in the embattled region.

"There is no more option than repentance and dropping arms and returning to wisdom in order to reach solutions at the negotiating table that would suit all the groups in Darfur," al-Bashir added.

He also vowed to end injustice in all of the country and expand an atmosphere of peace and security and peaceful coexistence between the various Sudanese factions and ethnicities.