The Sudanese government on Monday pledged commitment to a peace agreement it signed with a key rebel faction in the country's western war-torn region of Darfur.

"The government is committed to a complete implementation of the peace agreement," Majzoub al-Khalifa, chief government delegate to the peace negotiations, told a press conference.

Al-Khalifa returned to Khartoum earlier Monday from the Nigerian capital Abuja, where he signed the peace agreement last Friday with Minni Arkou Minawi, the leader of the most powerful faction in the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement.

The government will comply with its obligation in the agreement by disbanding illegal gangs and militia, safeguarding roads and stabilizing situation in Darfur, he said.

He also denied linkage between Janjaweed militia and the Arab tribes in the region, saying "the Janjaweed are armed robbery gangs and do not belong to any tribe."

The Sudanese government has strongly denied the accusation that it backs Arab Janjaweed militia which committed atrocities in Darfur conflict.

"The Janjaweed is a phenomenon rather than organized groups with definite leadership and clear tribal affiliation," al-Khalifa said.

He reiterated the government's call on the Darfur rebel factions which have not signed the peace agreement to change their position and participate in the peace process.

"Those rebel factions refusing the peace agreement have been isolated in view of the strong international support for the agreement, and they ought to sign it before the mid-May deadline set by the African Union," he added.

Source: Xinhua