Darfur rebels, Sudan govt ready for peace talks

Sept 8, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government and two main rebel groups from Sudan’s western Darfur region had said on Thursday they would attend peace talks scheduled to start on September 15.

Diplomats in Khartoum said one faction of the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M), wanted more time to prepare for the African Union sponsored talks but would send representation if the talks started as planned.

“The leadership body of the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement affirms … that the talks be held at the time and place that has already been decided,” the SLA said in a statement sent by the other main faction.

Sudanese and U.S. officials have said they hope the coming round of talks, due to take place in Abuja, will result in a peace deal to end the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and driven around 2 million from their homes.

The SLA/M, along with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) launched the rebellion in early 2003 in response to what they said was government neglect and marginalisation.

A JEM official said his group would attend the talks but could not confirm which official would be attending. A foreign ministry official said the government would also attend.

The AU has around 3,000 troops in Darfur monitoring a shaky cease-fire.

The African body said in a statement on Thursday that the SLA/M had failed to release Arab nomads and camels the group had taken in an August attack near the village of Mellam in South Darfur state.

Fellor Arab nomads were preparing to retrieve the men and camels by force, the AU said, adding it wanted the SLA/M to cooperate with a local committee to resolve the issue.

In a previous statement, the AU had said the SLA/M’s attack amounted to “banditry”.

Darfur’s rebel groups say the government responded to the rebellion by arming militias made up of mainly Arab nomad tribes, who looted and burnt their villages.

(Reuters/ST)