Khartoum ready to negotiate with eastern rebels

KHARTOUM, July 12, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government confirmed Tuesday that it is ready to hold peace negotiations with two rebel groups in eastern Sudan.

Rebels from Sudan’s Eastern Front parade during a conference held by the Front north of Kassala town, near the Eritrean border. (AFP).

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail said in a press statement that the government is ready to negotiate with rebels in the east, the Bija Conference and the Free Lions, to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict there.

The top Sudanese diplomat stressed the determination of his government to solve the conflict through dialogue, but said it is too early to talk about a fixed time and place for the negotiations.

Khartoum has repeatedly accused Eritrea of backing rebels in eastern Sudan.

On Saturday, former southern rebel leader John Garang was sworn in as first vice president of the interim government of national unity, marking a new era after two decades of north-south civil war.

But the southern peace deal signed in January did not cover separate conflicts in the western region of Darfur and the east.

Khartoum has signed a declaration of principles for resolving the Darfur conflict with two local rebel groups in the latest peace talks in the Nigerian capital of Abuja earlier this month. They have agreed to resume talks on Aug. 24.