Gadhafi vows support to end Darfur war

SIRTE, Libya, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi is ready to help end the war in Sudan's violent Darfur province, says the head of the United Nations.

Gadhafi expressed strong support for African Union and U.N. efforts to end the conflict during talks with U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, the Voice of America reported Sunday.

Libya is to host renewed Darfur peace negotiations beginning Oct. 27.

Gadhafi hosted the U.N. chief and his entourage this weekend at meetings in a tent at a palatial residence in Gadhafi's desert hometown of Sirte, the VOA reported.

Afterwards, Ban told journalists Gadhafi promised to do everything possible to bring the leaders of the different factions in the four-year-old conflict to the negotiating table.

Eight key rebel groups have agreed to attend the talks while Abdul Wahid, the popular leader of the Sudan Liberation Army, has vowed not to attend.