KHARTOUM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The troika (the United States, Britain and Norway) and the EU embassies in Khartoum on Thursday urged the Sudanese government and the armed movements in Darfur to stop all military operations and negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflict.
"We call on the government and opposition movements to actively seek a political compromise and encourage the Government of Sudan to continue demonstrating readiness to compromise in negotiations," said the troika in a statement Thursday.
"This should allow for a swift return to cessation of hostilities, including the safe return of opposition groups outside of Sudan, and entry into a broader and inclusive peace process under the auspices of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel's Roadmap Agreement," it added.
The troika further expressed deep concern about reports of renewed fighting in Darfur between the Sudanese government and two Darfur armed groups, saying "these new incidents of violence underscore the urgent need for the parties to finalize a negotiated cessation of hostilities and an agreement to return to political negotiations leading to a sustainable peace."
It urged all parties to cooperate fully with the UN-AU Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), as it seeks to carry out its monitoring and protection of civilians mandate.
It further encouraged UNAMID to take an active role in accessing the areas where fighting has been reported in order to verify and assess the extent of the violence and its impact on civilian populations.
The troika asked all parties in the conflict to ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations in order to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to population in need.
"There is no military solution to Sudan's conflicts, which have only resulted in devastation for civilian populations. We call on all parties to show restraint, cease all military actions, return to the unilaterally proclaimed ceasefires and finalize as soon as possible a joint cessation of hostilities agreement," it said.
Clashes have erupted since May 20 between two Darfur rebel groups and the Sudanese army and army's affiliate the Rapid Support Forces.
On May 20, the Sudanese army said that it repulsed two separate attacks by two armed groups in east and north of Darfur region, adding that the two groups moved simultaneously from Libya and South Sudan.
The Sudanese army has been fighting three armed groups in Darfur, the rebel Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army.
