US hails new Sudanese security accord between government, rebels

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (AFP) — The United States on Friday lauded a security agreement reached this week between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLA/M), calling it an “historic” accord that should boost efforts for permanent settlement of the conflict.

“This is really significant and something we’re really quite pleased about, ” deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

“This is pretty historic and the remaining details of a final peace accord are in the process of being negotiated,” he told reporters. “Both sides have said they’re working to bring that process to closure quickly.”

The rebels led by John Garang, and Khartoum, signed the agreement on Thursday at peace talks in Kenya. It was seen as a key step towards a full peace agreement that would put an end to the longest and one of the bloodiest civil wars in Africa.

The deal, which lays out the positions and strengths of the government and rebel forces, was reached after three weeks of Kenyan-mediated talks between Garang and Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha.

Their talks adjourned Friday, with delegations to meet again on October 6.

Sudan’s civil war erupted in 1983 when the SPLA/M took up arms to end domination of the mainly Christian and animist south by the Muslim north. It has since killed more than 1.5 million people and displaced four million others.

The United States has been pressing both sides to negotiate in good faith and has threatened to tighten sanctions against Khatoum and step up assistance to the rebels should it determine the government is not cooperating in the peace process.

In April, US President George W. Bush determined that Khartoum was negotiating in good faith and waived the imposition of new sanctions but must make a new evaluation next month.