Western rebels, government start “crucial” talks 14 December in Chad

By Sudanese opposition Democratic Unionist Party web site

KHARTOUM, Dec 13, 2003 — Negotiations between the Sudanese government and the SLM/A [Sudan Liberation Movement/Army] which carries out military operations in Darfur, western Sudan, will resume tomorrow in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena.

This round of talks will be “crucial” to end the current war which has been going on for nine months, leading to the death of thousands and the displacement of more than 600,000 civilians.

This stemmed from the two-day meeting held in Khartoum between the Chadian president, Idris Deby, and his Sudanese counterpart, President Al-Bashir, to solve the impasse hindering the negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels.

BBC Monitoring Middle East