NAIROBI, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said on Friday he was optimistic about striking a peace deal with rebels in Nigeria within weeks to end a three year-conflict in Darfur which has led to the death of thousands of people.

    Speaking in a press briefing here on the sidelines of an Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers meeting, Akol said the peace talks underway in Abuja, Nigeria, between rebels from Sudan's western Darfur region and the Sudanese government, may result in a peace deal by the end of April.

    However, Akol admitted that a peace deal may not end the violence, due to a splintering of rebel factions and called for apolitical compromise between the negotiating parties. ¡°We hope that before the end of April, the political solution will be available in Darfur because of all the stakeholders including the African Union (AU) have agreed that we must give priority to the realization of peace in Darfur," Akol said. The minister said that wide strides have been made during the current round of talks concerning the sharing of wealth and power and the security arrangements' agreement.

    He said that a road-map for solving Darfur conflict is to be formulated with the participation of the United Nations, the AU,the Sudan government and the rebel movements.

    "A number of steps have been taken. The AU will name a five-man committee comprising the current chairman including some heads of state to raise the profile of the peace so that both parties can see the importance of the talks," he said.