Chad's president has urged Sudan's government and rebels in the western Darfur region to respect a repeatedly violated cease-fire, and declare an end to their two-year civil war.

President Idriss Deby told officials from both sides at a meeting in Chad Thursday that it is time for them to respect their commitments.

Chad Presses Sudanese Government, Rebels to End Darfur Violence

Wednesday, officials at the meeting, including Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, asked mediators to prepare for a new round of talks later this month.

Chad Presses Sudanese Government, Rebels to End Darfur Violence

Three previous rounds of talks have failed to stop the violence in Darfur, which has left at least 70,000 people dead and 1.5 million others displaced.

Chad Presses Sudanese Government, Rebels to End Darfur Violence

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the Security Council Wednesday to act quickly to stop what he called "further death and suffering" in Darfur.