KHARTOUM: The Chinese special envoy for Darfur yesterday urged nations with influence over rebel groups to pressure them to return to negotiations with the Sudanese government.

"The reluctance of Darfur's main rebel groups to return to the negotiating table has resulted in the disappointing tardiness of the political process in Darfur during the last few months," Liu Guijin said upon his arrival in Khartoum for a visit to Sudan.

"Only if those main rebel groups return to the negotiating table can Darfur achieve a certain extent of stability and the peacekeeping mission function smoothly," he said.