Nairobi - The Sudanese government has said the best way to end the conflict in its western Darfur region may be to let the people there manage their own affairs.
Following a meeting in Tripoli on Sunday, hosted by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and attended by leaders from Sudan, Nigeria, Chad and Egypt, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said that the federal system "may be the best system for Darfur".
"That means the right to elect their own governor and parliament and take care of their internal affairs," Ismail was quoted by the BBC as saying.
A spokesperson for one of the Darfur rebel groups, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), said that they were not asking for autonomy but a comprehensive peace.
The summit in Tripoli ended with the five leaders agreeing that getting aid to the displaced people in Darfur was a priority.
A statement issued after the summit closed late on Sunday also said that the crisis in Darfur was a pure African affair.
The conflict in Darfur has been going on since early 2003 and the Sudanese government has for several months faced growing international pressure to end the humanitarian crisis there and assert control over the Arab Janjaweed militia, which is accused of terrorising civilians in Darfur.
The UN estimates 70 000 people have died as a result of the conflict in Darfur, from violence, starvation and disease.
Around 1,5 million people have fled their homes since the conflict started, and 200 000 have escaped across the border to Chad.
Sudan recently decided to accept a large increase in the African Union force in Darfur, which currently numbers 300 and has a very limited mandate.
The new force, expected to number 4 500, is scheduled for deployment before the end of November.
Lack of money as well as logistical problems has delayed the deployment, which had initially been planned for the past weekend. - Sapa-dpa