国际英语新闻：Gulf Arab states stand with Sudanese government in addressing Darfur issue

KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Gulf Arab states on Tuesday showed their praise for efforts of the Sudanese government in addressing the crisis in the western region of Darfur.

    In a communique issued after the 30th leaders' summit, the Gulf states expressed the hope for the success of negotiations between the Sudanese government and relevant rebel parties for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

    The oil-exporters stressed that the restive Darfur is part of the unified Sudan and the Darfur issue is a political one that can only be resolved through political dialogue.

    Fighting that erupted in 2003 between ethnic rebels and the Sudanese forces have left around 300,000 people dead and 2.7 million others displaced, the United Nations estimated.

    The UN Security Council last year dispatched a hybrid force, the UNAMID (African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur), to the volatile region in efforts to protect local residents.

    The Sudanese government and rebel groups have sit face-to-face in several rounds of negotiations, but little progress has been achieved as various parties were entrenched in their positions on key issues.