A key Darfur rebel leader said a viable peacekeeping force for the war-torn western Sudanese region must include non-Africans and toned down his conditions for joining peace talks.

African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said in Khartoum on Sunday that troops from outside Africa were not needed for a planned joint AU/UN force as African nations had pledged enough soldiers already.

The comments angered Darfur rebel leaders who say AU troops in Darfur have been unable to stem the violence. International experts estimate 200 000 have died and 2,5-million driven from their homes in more than four years of revolt in Darfur.

"If anybody talks about only one continent [for the force] that means it is racism and we are against that strongly," Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) chairperson and founder Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur told Reuters late on Tuesday night.

"I'd like Konare to behave like the leader of the African people," he said.

Nur said troops "of all colours" from all over the world should be included in the 26 000-strong force which will absorb 7 000 struggling AU forces already there.

A senior UN peacekeeping official earlier this month said mostly African nations had pledged infantry but key logistics and air support was lacking.

Analysts say much of this support needs to come from Western nations, which have yet to give any firm pledges of military personnel.

Nur, who has only a few troops in Darfur but commands wide popular support, refused to go to AU and UN mediated rebel unity meeting in Tanzania earlier this month.

He had previously said he wanted a no-fly zone and oil-for-food programme before going to any talks.

But in a positive sign Nur dropped those preconditions, saying he now wanted security in the form of UN troops, disarmament of militias and the removal of settlers on lands belonging to those who have fled the fighting.

"If they stop the killing of my people then that will create a more conducive environment for peace talks," he said.

Since a May 2006 peace deal signed with only one of three rebel negotiating factions, the insurgents have split into more than a dozen groups, a hurdle to restarting talks.

This month many commanders and groups agreed a common negotiating position ahead of talks to start within three months.