Sudan government ready to take “toughest decisions” for peace

KHARTOUM, Nov. 30, 2003 (dpa) — The Sudanese government claimed Sunday it is ready to take the “toughest decisions” to stop decades of bloodshed in Sudan.

Peace talks aimed at ending the 20 years of civil war between the Arab-Muslim north and African-Christian south are set to resume on Monday after a break of almost a month.

The Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Taha told the official Omdurman Radio on Sunday that the talks would discuss the redistribution of wealth between the south and north, as well as the issue of three contested areas.

Monday’s round of peace talks between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) will last two weeks.

Taha said the talks would include discussions on the distribution of oil revenues, transitional arrangements, international guarantees to the peace agreement and power sharing.

Agreement on the contested areas is expected to be finalized during a meeting between Taha and the SPLA Leader John Garang scheduled for December 5.

Last week Taha said the Sudanese government is committed to a finding a durable peace and promised that a peace accord will signed before the end of this year.