Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 December 2003. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Monday, 15 December 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will press the Government of Sudan to accept international monitoring of the situation in Darfur, Sudan; what discussions he has had with the government of Chad with regard to the Sudanese peace talks.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will press the Government of Sudan to accept international monitoring of the situation in Darfur, Sudan; [143650] (2) what discussions he has had with the Government of Chad with regard to the Sudanese peace talks. [143651] Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) spoke with the President of Sudan on 10 December during his visit to Sudan on 10 and 11 December, about the situation in Darfur. He expressed the British Government's concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation there, and made clear that the parties needed to stop fighting and renew the ceasefire as a matter of urgency. We will ask the Government of Sudan to consider inviting international observers to monitor a renewed ceasefire. Our Embassy in Khartoum has also had contact with the Chadian Embassy there with regard to the Abeche peace talks.

Secondary information