U.N. to try to expedite talks in Sudan

JUBA, Sudan, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The United Nations will try to expedite peace negotiations in Sudan, with an October target date, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday.

"We need to see peace as soon as possible," Ban said during a news conference in Juba, Sudan, with Salva Kiir, first vice president of Sudan and president of southern Sudan.

The reauthorization of 26,000 U.S. peacekeepers in Darfur "must be accompanied by a political process," the secretary-general said in a news release. "This is my firm commitment, and I am encouraged by a strong commitment by President Salva Kiir to that common purpose."

Ban was in Sudan for political talks with to end the war and continued humanitarian assistance.

Ban called implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement "critically important." For peace to be achieved, it was important that leaders north and south Sudan -- Omar al-Bashir and Kiir, respectively -- "are fully committed, and closely coordinate for the successful implementation of this agreement."

Ban said Ashraf Qazi, currently special representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, would be the new special representative of the secretary-general in Sudan.