UN GETS LIBYAN BACKING ON DARFUR !
By Laura Trevelyan BBC News, Tripoli.
UN chief on meeting
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says he has received strong support from Libya's leader to forge a final settlement to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.
The secretary general spoke after talks with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi at his compound near Sirte.
Mr Ban said Col Gaddafi had pledged to use his influence to bring Darfur rebel groups to Libya for UN-sponsored talks with Khartoum's government next month.
More than 200,000 people have died and 2.5m been displaced by the fighting.
In a vast tent in the middle of the desert with the sun beating down outside, the reclusive Libyan leader sat next to Ban Ki-moon - both men in huge armchairs, with photographers capturing the scene.
Abdul Wahid, a key rebel leader, refuses to attend peace talks. Col Gaddafi was wearing his trademark sunglasses and a shirt with a map of Africa on it.
The two men had what Mr Ban called a tete-a-tete. Afterwards the Libyan leader was whisked away.
Libya is regarded as having influence with key rebel groups, including one led by Abdul Wahid who, so far, has stayed away from talks.
This encounter was not just about Darfur. By his very presence, Mr Ban was signalling how this one-time pariah state is now coming in from the cold.
For Libya this could lead to more foreign investment.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
The secretary general spoke after talks with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi at his compound near Sirte.
Mr Ban said Col Gaddafi had pledged to use his influence to bring Darfur rebel groups to Libya for UN-sponsored talks with Khartoum's government next month.
More than 200,000 people have died and 2.5m been displaced by the fighting.
In a vast tent in the middle of the desert with the sun beating down outside, the reclusive Libyan leader sat next to Ban Ki-moon - both men in huge armchairs, with photographers capturing the scene.
Abdul Wahid, a key rebel leader, refuses to attend peace talks. Col Gaddafi was wearing his trademark sunglasses and a shirt with a map of Africa on it.
The two men had what Mr Ban called a tete-a-tete. Afterwards the Libyan leader was whisked away.
Libya is regarded as having influence with key rebel groups, including one led by Abdul Wahid who, so far, has stayed away from talks.
This encounter was not just about Darfur. By his very presence, Mr Ban was signalling how this one-time pariah state is now coming in from the cold.
For Libya this could lead to more foreign investment.
posted by jackaranda at 9:28 am
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