Peace envoy says Khartoum committed to IGAD process

Presidential Adviser on Peace Affairs Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Atabani on Tuesday met Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi on the future of peace negotiations aimed at resolving Sudan's 18-year civil war. He presented to Moi, chairman of the regional peace process on Sudan which is taking place under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Khartoum's proposals on ways to take the process forward, according to a press statement from the Sudanese embassy in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. "I reiterated the commitment of the Sudanese government to the IGAD peace process and, at the same time, emphasised the importance of seeing the process rejuvenated and energised to assume the role it was expected to undertake," Ghazi Salah al-Din stated after the meeting. "I am looking forward to see a positive outcome from my meetings in Kenya," he added. The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) said last week that the Sudanese government was "backing away" from the IGAD-sponsored peace process, in favour of a parallel initiative put forward jointly by the governments of Egypt and Libya. Khartoum denied the allegations, saying it had postponed the latest round of IGAD-sponsored talks - scheduled to have started on 24 September - because it needed more time to consult with Moi before resuming negotiations.