Sudan's government and some rebel groups began talks in Libya today to end 4-1/2 years of conflict in Darfur, but the absence of key rebels cast doubt on whether negotiations could produce any meaningful deal.
On the eve of the African Union-United Nations-mediated talks in Sirte, two main rebel groups - the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Army Unity faction - said they would not attend.
That decision emerged after another rebel chief, Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, founder of a third group, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), said he would not travel to Libya for the talks.
JEM-SLA Unity represent the biggest military threat to the Sudanese government and Nur has the most popular support among Darfuris. Analysts say without their representation in Libya peace talks had little chance of success.
The official Libyan news agency Jana reported the talks had begun, commenting that the negotiations "show that the international community and its organizations are keen on finding a final and permanent solution to the problem."
UN and AU officials earlier played down prospects of a conclusive deal, saying they hoped for some solid progress by year-end.
"It's not a question of one meeting or two," said AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni. "It's a long process. We hope that, as it evolves, others will join in."
Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Relations Al-Samani Al-Wasiyla told reporters in Sirte: "We have a strong desire to reach a solution. They (rebels) should come to make their demands known to the government. Their demands should be objective and reasonable."
"We come here with an open heart to listen to them."
The talks are the first attempt to gather Darfur rebels and the government around a negotiating table since 2006 when the African Union mediated Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria.
Signed by only one rebel faction, the resulting deal had little support among the 2 million Darfuris trapped in displacement camps.
Rather than bring peace, it triggered fresh violence, as rebels split into more than a dozen factions, some preying on civilians, aid workers and AU troops sent to the region to quell the violence but unable to protect themselves.
International experts say 200,000 people have died since rebels rose up against the government in 2003, charging it with neglect. The Sudanese government says the Western media exaggerates the crisis and only 9,000 people have died.
Analysts have warned that without full rebel representation the Libya talks would go the way of the Abuja deal.