May 3 - THE US has joined a big diplomatic push by the African Union to make warring factions in the Darfur region of Sudan co-operate on a peace agreement.

President George Bush has intervened personally, phoning the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, urging him to persuade his Vice-President to return to the talks he left on Monday.

The Princeton University petition lobbying President Bush over this issue may be seen here.