Powell confident that Sudan peace accord is close

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (AFP) — US Secretary of State Colin Powell again expressed confidence that a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and opposition rebels could be reached before the end of the month.

Powell said the United States would do everything it could to make sure an accord was reached.

Speaking at the US-Sub Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Washington, Powell said: “I have been in touch with the parties in the last 10 days and I am optimistic that it is possible to achieve the comprehensive settlement by the end of the month.”

He added “the United States will do everything we can to help the parties achieve this outcome. It is a moment that must not be lost.”

President George W. Bush on Monday invited Sudan’s President Omar al-Beshir to sign the expected peace accord in Washington, Sudan’s SUNA news agency said Monday.

Bush telephoned Beshir to proposed the peace accord between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) take place in Washington.

The White House said Bush telephoned Beshir and SPLA leader John Garang asking them to resolve final differences ahead of a peace accord.

“The president encouraged each side to demonstrate the flexibility to resolve their remaining differences and take the final steps to complete a just and comprehensive peace agreement,” said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Vice President Ali Osman Taha and Garang on Sunday began talks in Kenya aimed at finalising an accord.

Since 1983, a civil war has pitted the SPLA, representing mainly animists and Christians in southern Sudan, against successive Arab and Muslim governments in Khartoum.