Sudan government, western rebels to sign peace deal on 31 October, report

BBC Monitoring Middle East

By Al-Anba daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Oct 31, 2003 — Talks between the government and the Darfur [western Sudan] [rebel] SLM/A [Sudan Liberation Movement/Army SLM/A] witnessed great progress yesterday, in the Chadian town of Abeche.

In a statement to [Khartoum based newspaper ] Al-Anba, a reliable source said the Chadian mediator submitted a draft of the final agreement between the two parties.

The source said the draft of the Chadian mediator was a big step forward to reaching a final agreement and it met the approval of both negotiating parties.

The same source expected the agreement to be signed today by the head of intelligence, Maj Gen Dr Abd al-Karim Abdallah, on the government side, and by the SLM/A leader, Abdallah Abkar.

The source specified that the most important feature of the final agreement would be the end of the SLM/A’s armed violence within 45 days from the signing of the agreement. During this period, weapons will be collected and all SLM/A’s vehicles handed over to the government.