WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush called his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Beshir on Tuesday and urged him to make efforts to reach a peace agreement with the rebels, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

    "The president requested that President Beshir send Vice President (Osman) Taha back to the peace talks in Abuja to help finalize a peace agreement," McClellan said.

    "The president is making very clear that we have some concerns and that we also want to see the government continue to work with the rebel groups and others to get a peace agreement," McClellan said.

    "We will be looking for the government of Sudan to follow through on what the president brought up in the call," the spokesman added.

    U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick left Washington on Monday for Abuja, Nigeria to assist the African Union (AU) team find solution to the remaining issues regarding a peace agreement for Darfur.

    The United States has urged the Sudanese parties to reach a peace agreement to end the violence and suffering in the Darfur region. Enditem