EU's Solana speaks on phone with 3 Darfur rebel leaders

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana spoke on the phone with three rebel leaders on Tuesday and urged them to seize the opportunity in Abuja.



"I will be here tomorrow (Wednesday), beyond that I don't know," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick told reporters on Tuesday evening.

Zoellick declined to say how long the talks might now last, noting his role was to try to bridge gaps between the sides.

"I will only continue to do that if I see we are in a position to try and accomplish that," he said.



Archive photo: Robert Zoellick (2nd L) talks with an unidentified Rwandan Army officer belonging to the AU (African Union) force in Darfur, upon his arrival in El-Fasher, Sudan, 2005. See Apr 17 2005 New US envoy for Sudan Robert Zoellick lays out priorities for Sudan's crisis

UPDATE: May 2 Brussels/ST EU urges Sudanese parties to sign Darfur peace agreement - According to Solana's office, Solana spoke on Tuesday with the leaders of the rebel groups, Abdul Wahid Mohamed El Nour (SLM), Minni Arkoi Minnawi (SLM) and Khalil Ibrahim (JEM), to urge them to do their utmost to conclude the negotiations. Solana would also be in contact with Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, said the statement.