UN Chief welcomes Darfur truce call

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the Sudanese President's call for a ceasefire in Darfur, saying the world expects "concrete progress," his office said.

Ban "welcomes President Omar al-Beshir's declaration of an immediate ceasefire between the government of Sudan and the armed movements in Darfur as well as the intention by the government of Sudan to disarm all the militias," his spokeswoman said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General stresses that the effectiveness of any ceasefire depends upon all parties demonstrating their commitment to a cessation of hostilities, particularly since past efforts to uphold a ceasefire in Darfur were not successful," she added.

New York, Thursday, AFP