UN stands ready to aid Sudan peace efforts: Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 10 (AFP) — The UN Security Council Friday welcomed progress toward ending Sudan’s 20-year-old civil war and said it stands ready to help implement any deal.

“The Security Council assures the parties of its readiness to support them in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and requests the secretary general … to initiate preparatory work … on how the United Nations could best fully support the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement,” the council said in a statement.

Under a July 2002 peace deal, the people of southern Sudan will enjoy six years of self-rule before voting in a referendum on whether to remain part of Sudan or secede.

In another breakthrough last month, viewed as a major stepping stone to a final settlement, government and rebel negotiators worked out security arrangements, including integrating some of their forces.