KHARTOUM, Sudan - Officials from the Netherlands were asked by Sudanese rebels to consider having their country be the site for peace talks on the embattled province of Darfur.

Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen and Development Minister Bert Koenders received the proposal during a weekend visit to Sudan, the ANP news agency said Monday.

The two ministers were to meet with rebel leaders Tuesday to discuss the idea but told ANP they could not predict an outcome.

Rebel leader Ahmed Abdelshafi made the proposal and admitted that formal talks with the government would likely take some time to set up.

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