U.N. delegation to Darfur to assess peace talks

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The former EU representative for Sudan will lead a U.N. delegation to Darfur and neighboring areas beginning on Wednesday to assess the possibility of starting peace talks to end the four-year-old conflict.

"I have promised to go through the countries in the region and to also visit Darfur to get a view how willing all sides are to negotiate," Pekka Haavisto, now member of Finnish parliament, told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The key question is to get the government and non-signatory groupings, of whom there are many unfortunately, to the same table," he said.

A May 2006 peace deal was signed by the government of Sudan and one of three main rebel factions. The lack of support for the peace agreement spawned new violence, as rebel groups splintered, and militias and the Sudanese government conducted fresh strikes.

United Nations and African Union are aiming to start new peace talks to end the long conflict in July-August.

"The faster it could end the better," Haavisto said.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 200,000 people and driven 2 million from their homes since 2003. Sudan disputes the toll, saying 9,000 people have died.

Earlier on Tuesday President George W. Bush tightened U.S. sanctions against Sudan and sought support for new international penalties out of frustration over what he called Sudan's refusal to end the bloodshed in Darfur.

Haavisto said the sanctions were designed to increase pressure but the solution could be found only through negotiations.

"Like with most conflicts there is no one side to blame. I cannot see that any side could win by fighting," he said.

Haavisto and the U.N. delegation will visit Sudan, Chad and Eritrea from Wednesday to June 11.