UN envoy hopeful on Darfur peace

The 7,000 African peacekeepers are unable to contain the violence

Sudan's government remains committed to a hybrid UN and African peacekeeping force for Darfur, a UN envoy says.

Jan Eliasson said Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir had also agreed with him that the Darfur conflict could only have a political not military solution.

On Wednesday, the government agreed to a Darfur ceasefire but Mr Eliasson said it was not clear to what extent rebel groups would be party to it.

At least 200,000 people have died in Darfur in the past four years.

Some 7,000 African Union troops on the ground have not been able to prevent the conflict worsening.

A peace agreement was signed last May between the government and one leading rebel group but violence has continued, with rival rebels refusing to sign.

Meeting rebels

The announcement of the 60-day ceasefire came after a visit this week by senior US politician Bill Richardson.

Correspondents say it is not clear exactly when the ceasefire will begin or which rebel groups have agreed to it.

The government has been accused of mounting a major offensive in recent months.

Mr Eliasson, the UN envoy for Darfur, said he planned to meet rebel leaders when he goes to Darfur later on Friday.

"President Bashir and all other officials I met here told me that there will not be a military solution to the Darfur problem and I hope I will hear this from the non-signatories," AFP news agency quotes him as saying.

The UN has a three-part plan to strengthen the African Union force with UN troops.

Mr Bashir has consistently opposed any large UN deployment, only agreeing to a hybrid force.

He has always insisted the problems in Darfur are being exaggerated.

The peace mission will first be augmented by dozens of UN experts and then expanded into a hybrid force, with UN troops providing logistical and other support.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, saying the region was being neglected by Khartoum.

The rebels say the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.