SIRTE, Libya (Reuters):

Sudan's government and some rebel groups began talks in Libya yesterday to end four and a half years of conflict in Darfur, but the absence of key rebels cast doubt on whether negotiations could produce any meaningful deal.

On the eve of the African Union-United Nations-mediated talks in Sirte, two main rebel groups - the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Army Unity faction - said they would not attend.

That decision emerged after another rebel chief, Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur, founder of a third group, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), said he would not travel to Libya for the talks.

JEM-SLA Unity represent the biggest military threat to the Sudanese government and Nur has the most popular support among Darfuris. Analysts say without their representation in Libya peace talks had little chance of success.

Final and permanent solution

The official Libyan news agency Jana reported the talks had begun, commenting that the negotiations "show that the international community and its organisations are keen on finding a final and permanent solution to the problem."

U.N. and AU officials earlier played down prospects of a conclusive deal, saying they hoped for some solid progress by year end.

"It's not a question of one meeting or two," said AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni. "It's a long process. We hope that, as it evolves, others will join in."

Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Relations, Al-Samani Al-Wasiyla, told reporters in Sirte: "We have a strong desire to reach a solution. They (rebels) should come to make their demands known to the government. Their demands should be objective and reasonable."

"We come here with an open heart to listen to them."