WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States urged on Wednesday the Sudanese parties to reach a peace agreement and end the violence and suffering in the war-torn Darfur region.

    "I hope the parties will take this opportunity to get a peace agreement and lay a foundation for which the violence can end and so that the people of Darfur can be safe and live in peace," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said following her meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso.

    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.

    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.

    Tens of thousands of people have been killed and some 2 million displaced because of the armed conflicts in Darfur. Enditem