Alfred Taban BBC, Khartoum

The authorities in Sudan have arrested the chairman of the opposition Justice Party.

General Tawfiq Salih Abu Kadouk whose party has its stronghold in Darfur - a region known as the "Wild "West" for its lawlessness - is a former general of the Sudanese army.

A security source said that the general is being investigated in connection with a rebellion in Darfur last month against the government of President Hassan al-Bashir.

The Justice party has strong links with Darfur, which borders Chad.

The main politician behind the party - a former state minister of justice - hails from the region.

'Too deformed'

The Justice Party has had very bad relationship with the ruling National Congress party in Khartoum.

Three of its leaders were one time leading members of the government and ruling party but resigned last year accusing the National Congress of being corrupt and of being "too deformed to be reformed".

Mr Kadouk's background could probably have something to do with his arrest. As a former general in the Sudanese army, he was credited for successfully containing the southern rebels of Sudan Peoples Liberation Army for many years.

The fear is that if he is left at large and is in contact with the rebels in Darfur they will be very difficult to defeat militarily.

The government has said it is willing to talk with the western rebels but has warned it is equally willing to use force if dialogue fails.

Officials executed

Two government delegations are currently visiting the rebels.

Last month the Darfur-based rebels executed some government officials sent to talk to them. Others were taken hostage.

Fighting has been going on in Sudan for some 17 years

At the time, a group calling itself the Front for the Liberation of Darfur claimed responsibility for the uprising.

The arrest of the general will hamper efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict in the region.

The news of his detention came as state television reported fresh fighting in Darfur.

The human rights group, Amnesty International, last month called on the government to set up an independent inquiry into the deteriorating security situation in Darfur.