¡¡KHARTOUM, Oct. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday for talks with the Sudanese leadership over the crisis in the troubled western Darfur region.

    Blair, the first British leader to visit Sudan since Khartoum got independence from Britain in 1956, was met by Sudanese ForeignMinister Mustafa Osman Ismail on his arrival. He will hold talks with Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir and Vice President Ali Osman Taha.

    Blair would "underline the clear message to the government of Sudan from the international community" that Khartoum must take steps to improve security and secure access of relief workers to Darfur, Blair's spokesman said ahead of the visit.

    The trip to Sudan is part of Blair's three-day Africa tour, which will also take him to Ethiopia where he will attend a session of the Commission for Africa, an Africa task force launched by himself in February. Enditem