ABUJA, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Substantive negotiations between Sudan's government and two rebel groups in its west region of Darfur began Monday in Nigeria's capital Abuja, amid repeated violations of a ceasefire agreement by both parties.

    In his remarks at the opening of the plenary session, African Union (AU) Special Envoy and Chief Mediator Salim Ahmed Salim said the delegates were holding face-to-face negotiations on power sharing such as duties, native administration and reconciliation.

    Salim said the sixth round of peace talks on Darfur had entered a crucial stage, advising all the parties and their negotiators to familiarize themselves with the provisions of a declaration of broad principles adopted in Abuja in July.

    Delegates from Sudan's government and rebel groups formally resumed the talks on September 15, but since then they only held workshops but not direct discussions. Meanwhile, fighting erupted again in Darfur, leading to the deaths of dozens of people in the past two weeks.

    "Having taken all this time to come to this point and after the very frank exchanges during the workshops, I should like to categorically state that we shall not entertain polemical arguments and long lectures during the negotiations," he said.

    Salim expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, saying that it is untenable and unacceptable that at a time there was light at the end of the tunnel, some unscrupulous elements were bent on wreaking havoc and further traumatizing the already suffering people in the region.

    "We cannot understand the rampant acts of banditry in Darfur, the killing of innocent civilians even in internally displaced persons' camps and the destruction of the homes, and the social fabric of communities in Darfur, when the major protagonists are all here in Abuja," he said.

    "Since we have a framework in Abuja for a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Darfur, why should more innocent lives be lost in such senseless circumstances," he complained.

    The AU chief mediator said it was his belief and expectation that the Abuja talks and the holy month of Ramadan would be used for confidence and trust building to begin an era of peace in Darfur.

    "I hope that the spirit and blessings of this holy month will bring positive results for our negotiations," he said. The talks on power sharing, wealth sharing and security arrangements are expected to be concluded on October 20.

    Responding to the address, the spokesman of Sudan's government, Majzoub el-Khalifa, said the government was convinced that the peace process which had been launched would never stop.

    "We are not satisfied with the delay so far because our people are suffering," he said, adding that the government wanted a clear determination to make the present round of talks a decisive round.

     Abdulrahman Musa, who spoke for the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M), the bigger of two rebel groups, expressed the hope that the international community would live up to its expectation and try to stop the suffering of the people.

    Ahmed Tugod, chief negotiator of the second rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), thanked the AU and the international community for their support and urged all parties to enter the peace talks in good faith.

    He expressed the movement's reservation about the items relating to power sharing, saying that issues of rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as repatriation of internally displaced persons should also be considered.

    To facilitate the talks, a steering committee to be chaired by the AU Special Envoy, has been set up, delegates said. Other members of the committee are representatives of the AU Mediation, two representatives each of the Chadian Co-Mediation, the government of Sudan, the JEM and SLA/M.

    The Darfur conflict, which flared up in February 2003, has claimed many lives and driven more than one million others from their homes.

    The AU has brokered a shaky ceasefire and struggled to find a lasting solution through five previous rounds of talks, which however failed to get substantial agreements. Enditem