Sudanese rebel leader Garang leaves for USA, France

By Al-Sahafah daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Nov. 18, 2003 — The [rebel] SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] leader, John Garang, left for the USA yesterday on a visit which will last several days. During the visit, Garang will hold talks with the US administration on the peace process. He will then visit Paris from 23 to 26 November.

A prominent SPLM leader, Deng Alier, told Al-Sahafah that yesterday evening, Garang met the Kenyan peace envoy, Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo, in Rumbek [southern Sudan] and that their meeting focused on the next round of peace negotiations.

BBC Monitoring Middle East