Darfur peace mediators vowed to press on with negotiations due to start Saturday in Libya despite the decision by two main rebel groups to boycott the talks, saying time was running out for the Sudanese region torn by years of fighting.

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Text of final statement in English between the Sud

By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council approved a 26,000- strong peacekeeping force for Darfur on Tuesday to try to help end four years of fighting that has killed more than 200,000 people in the vast Sudanese region.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur on Tuesday to try to help end four years of fighting that has killed more than 200,000 people in the vast Sudanese region.