African summit: new try to solve the Darfur problem

Seven African leaders meeting in the Libyan capital have rejected any intervention by non-African countries in Sudan`s western Darfur region, and have authorized Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to carry on trying to get conflicting parties to reach a settlement.

In a statement issued Tuesday at the end of the two-day meeting, leaders of Egypt, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Sudan, Gabon and Eritrea decided to "reject any foreign intervention in the Darfur problem," saying that "dealing with it should be through its African framework."

The Sudanese ambassador to Canada has said her country would not allow &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/columnists/2002/09/05/36063.html ' target=_blank>Canadian troops into Darfur despite an assistance package from the minority Liberal government, announced last Thursday, that included up to 100 military advisers to help the African Union maintain peace in the war-ravaged region, publishes the Globe and Mail.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, invited to the summit by Gadhafi, met with Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir on Monday in what the official Libyan news agency described as a step toward a "historic reconciliation." The two countries had accused each other of sheltering rebels their different territories.

The leaders called on other African nations to send more troops and police to reinforce the African Union`s mission in Darfur and asked the international community to contribute by extending logistical support.

The African Union has about 2,400 troops and 244 civilian police trying to restore the peace in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/367/12391_Sudan.html ' target=_blank>Darfur. On April 28 it voted to increase the force to 6,171 military personnel and 1,560 police by the end of September.

The seven African leaders said they would support reconciliation efforts between the people of Darfur, pay compensation and "try crime suspects in Darfur according to the national judicial system."