El FASHER, Sudan, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday urged the Darfur rebels to stop fighting and resort to dialogue to achieve comprehensive peace in the region.

"We have promised to achieve peace, and we call on our brothers who are carrying arms to put down their weapons and make efforts to achieve peace, development and stability," al-Bashir said when addressing a gathering at the el-Fasher stadium in the capital of North Darfur state.

The Sudanese president said it was important for all the Darfurians to participate in the forthcoming elections scheduled for April, saying "we want to organize free, credible and comprehensive elections, and it is important that all the people of Darfur participate in general elections."

"We want the Darfurians to choose their representatives to the legislative councils and the governor for their region and to elect the president of the republic upon their free will," he added.

"We want the coming elections to be a Sudanese model for the world in peaceful transition of power," he said.

The Sudanese president arrived in el-Fasher on Thursday to attend conclusion of the 21st national school tournament, hosted by North Darfur state.