Darfur rebel JEM ready for talks with Janjaweed militia

Oct 12, 2005 (ABUJA) — In a striking development in the Darfur crisis, the armed factions negotiating at the Abuja talks have announced their readiness to negotiate with the Janjaweed militias in order to unify the people of Darfur and to stop the bloodshed in the region.

This follows the resumption of the Abuja talks last night and invitation by mediators to the negotiating sides to discuss the criteria for power sharing.

The announcement was made to the Khartoum based Al-Ayam by the official spokesman of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Ahmed Hussein.

“We are prepared to sit with them if they agree with what we are calling for in terms of rectifying the situation in our area and removing the causes of marginalization which have hounded it over the past years,” he said.

Hussein further said JEM would respond to all calls aimed at mending the social fabric in Darfur which was destroyed by war, in an indication to the initiative by the Darfur National Peace and Development Forum, led by Lt-Gen Ibrahim Suleiman.

The Forum called yesterday to promote dialogue among Darfur forces to resolve the problems of the region.

(ST)