SIRTE (Libya), Sept 8: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday met Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi, who is seen as a key player in the latest push to end the four-year conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. Libya is Ban’s third stop after visits to Sudan and Chad on a tour aimed at re-launching peace talks for Darfur.

“I’m very encouraged by his strong support for talks in Libya,” Ban said after his half-hour meeting with Kadhafi.

“He said he would do all to bring leaders of movements” to talks planned for Oct 27 in Libya between the Sudanese government and rebel groups.

Ban added that he and Qadhafi agreed that the meeting should seek “durable and enduring peace and security in Darfur” and full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

It should also “bring all political issues to a resolution and the development issues to be discussed at an international level,” he added.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...