DARFUR, Sudan, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A group of 135 Chinese soldiers and officers have set out to relieve U.N. peacekeeping troops in Sudan.
The new group will build roads, bridges and airports, water, power and heating facilities, and help to destroy weapons and ammunition, the Xinhua news agency reported.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also finished his mission to the Darfur region of Sudan by personally visiting the war-torn region, urging the parties involved to stop fighting and aim for a political settlement.
Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson, who is the former president of the U.N. General Assembly, met with Sudanese government representatives in North Darfur's capitol, El Fasher.
Also in attendance were members of the two rebel groups that did not sign the Darfur Peace Agreement last May and a wing of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army.
Eliasson said he stressed to reach a durable political settlement in Darfur, a reduction in violence is needed.
More than 200,000 people have been killed in the region and at least 2 million have been displaced.
