Heiligendamm — Leaders of the world's eight leading industrialised countries have vowed to support efforts aimed at bringing to justice the perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region.

Those violating the human rights of civilians in Darfur must be held responsible, the G8 said in a statement issued Friday at the end of their three-day Summit in this Baltic seaside resort.

United States President George W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were amongst those attending the summit.

Six leaders from Africa -- Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufuor, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar'dua, President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia - and African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Omar Alpha Konare were also invited to the meeting.

The statement asked the Sudan government and the rebels to both ensure the safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those affected by the conflict, saying there was the need for all parties to respect international law.

It deplored the bombings carried out by the Sudan Government in North Darfur in April and May this year, as well as attacks by the rebel factions on African Mission Peacekeepers.

The G8 leaders said there was no military solution to the conflict and expressed full support for efforts of the United Nations and the AU to bring the parties to the negotiating table in order to reach a political settlement.

It called on the Government of Sudan to take advantage of the planned visit to Khartoum by the UN Security Council to express its full support for the UN-AU hybrid mission.

The statement said the leaders were troubled that the conflict was threatening peace and security in the wider region and urged Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic to honour their recently confirmed commitments to halt support for armed movements and work towards improving their relations.

"We remain deeply committed to resolve the Darfur crisis. If the Government of Sudan or the rebel movements continue to fail to meet their obligations, we will support appropriate action in the Security Council."

It re-affirmed their firm resolve to implement the development commitments to Africa, particularly, those made at its 2005 summit in Gleanagles, Scotland.

"The G8 summits have given Africa a high priority. We are continuing to work in partnership with Africa and we welcome the critical role of Africa in the reform process," the statement said.