LAGOS, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sudanese government and two rebel groups from the country's western Darfur region are to meet Thursday in Nigerian capital Abuja, relaunching African Union-sponsored peace talks to resolve the prolonged crisis in the region.

    Representatives from one of the rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), arrived in Abuja Wednesday. Reports said the delegation for the other rebel group, Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) is in Chad's capital N'djamena, waiting for a flight, and couldn't promise their arrival Thursday.

    The three sides are expected to discuss humanitarian and security protocols agreed in last month's talks in Abuja, coveringrefugee protection, aid deliveries and a cease-fire.

    The peace talks is yet another effort by the AU to solve African problems by Africans. The AU has made headway into resolving the Darfur conflict since a summit in Ethiopia in July, but the process remained slow.

    The AU reaffirmed the position to solve the Darfur problem in amini summit in Libyan capital Tripoli during the weekend, with five African leaders, including AU chairman Olusegun Obasanjo, who's also Nigerian President, vowed to reject foreign intervention "in this purely African question."

    In another development, reports from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa said the AU's powerful Peace and Security Council approved an increase in the force from 390 to 3,320 on Wednesday. Nigeria and Rwanda have said their troops are ready to go, and Obasanjo has called for a 4,500-strong contingent by the end of next month.Enditem