Sudanese government holds western rebels responsible for collapse

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec 24, 2003 (AP) — The Sudanese government on Wednesday blamed western insurgents for prolonging the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians after talks to end the conflict broke down last week.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Sudan Liberation Army, which is fighting for self-determination for the western province, “should shoulder full responsibility for the humanitarian suffering in Darfur region.”

The rebels have been battling government troops and government-backed militias since February.

A Sept. 3 cease-fire brokered by Chad was to have been formalized last week in N’Djamena, Chad, but talks broke down over “unacceptable demands” from the SLA, mediators said. It is believed the SLA wanted to include other rebel groups in the cease-fire, had demanded a greater share in national revenue and wanted military control over Darfur.

“The outlaws shoulder full legal responsibility for the failure of the recent N’Djamena talks … through their insistence on … coming up with impossible conditions, “ the ministry statement said.

The United Nations has said 670,000 people are in urgent need of assistance after fleeing their homes. Some 70,000 more have crossed the border into neighboring Chad. Around 3,000 civilians have been killed.

The Foreign Ministry statement stressed the government’s commitment to a peaceful solution in Darfur but made clear it would not stand idle while the SLA undermines the security of civilians, obstructs food delivery and hampers the efforts of the humanitarian relief organizations.

“The Sudanese government is determined to shoulder its full responsibility in the protection of lives and properties of civilians and relief workers in Darfur,” the statement said.

The United Nations and aid groups have had to curtail aid programs in the region because of the fighting.