SPLM delegation expected in Khartoum

KHARTOUM, March 6 (AFP) — A 70-strong group of former southern rebels will pay the first official visit to the Sudanese capital Khartoum since the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement with the government in January.

The delegation, from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, will arrive on March 15, led by Nyal Deng, and will stay for a week before going on to Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, Sudan’s information minister said on Sunday.

Abdel Basit Sabdarat told reporters that a government delegation would this week go to the Kenyan capital Nairobi to take part in meetings of four joint committees entrusted to speed up implementation of the January peace agreement.