Talks on the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur resumed in Abuja Monday, aimed at ending what was described by the United Nations as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The African Union-sponsored talks were attended by representatives of the Sudanese government and two rebel groups from Darfur, namely, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement. 

The government is represented by Agriculture Minister Mazjoub al-Khalifa Ahmed, while the two rebel groups both sent their top negotiators.

"The meeting here is essentially to deal with a political solution to Darfur," said Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also AU chairman, prior to the talks Monday morning.

The meeting is another effort by the African Union to help bring about a political solution to the Darfur crisis, which has left some 10,000 people dead and one million others displaced.

On July 15, the African regional bloc brokered a political dialogue in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa between the Sudanese government and the two rebel groups, yet the talks collapsed due to differences on various issues.

The Abuja meeting comes a week before a UN Security Council deadline for the Sudanese government to take measures to disarm the Janjaweed militia in Darfur or face possible sanctions.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2004)