LONDON: The UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner on Friday in a joint statement reconfirmed their continued and full support for the African Union and United Nations led political process for Darfur.

According to a Foreign and Commonwealth Office press release issued here on Friday the joint statement said: “We join other members of the international community in calling on all invited participants to attend the meeting in Arusha called by the AU and UN special envoys on Aug 3 - 5. Non-attendance would signal an unwillingness to resolve the suffering in Darfur.

“Both our governments are working hard in New York to achieve rapid endorsement of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force to ensure its early deployment. We appeal to the Government of Sudan and rebels to show their commitment to the political process by ceasing all hostilities and committing to a full ceasefire. We call on all parties to honour the commitments they made in Tripoli.

“The UK and France look forward to a sustained and inclusive peace deal that brings lasting benefits to the people of Darfur, and those in surrounding regions, who have suffered for too long.”