The UN and African Union peace mediators described a multi-phase process of talks involving an initial “consultation” period ahead of “substantial negotiations” set to open in a few weeks.

“The process leading to negotiations has begun,” said Salim Ahmed Salim, the AU envoy, on Sunday. The mediators stated the consultation phase would start on Monday, and Salim said “the actual date when the negotiations will begin” would be determined later.

The peace conference opening Saturday had widely been expected to see direct negotiations between rebels and government forces to resolve over four years of crisis in Sudan’s western Darfur region that has claimed 200,000 lives.

But none of Darfur’s rebel main leadership was in the Libyan coastal town of Sirte for the start of the talks, dashing hopes that an agreement could rapidly be reached.

“The real substantial negotiations will start when the parties are prepared,” UN mediator Eliasson said to reporters. He told The Associated Press he expected this to begin in three weeks.

Opening the talks on Saturday, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi noted that both key rival leaders, Abdulwahid Elnur and Khalil Ibrahim, were absent. “These are major movements, and without them we cannot achieve peace,” he said.