Sudanese government calls rebel ceasefire demands “unrealistic”

KHARTOUM, Dec 27, 2003 (dpa) — The Sudan Liberation Movement demanded that a ceasefire agreement, under negotiation during collapsed peace talks last November, be observed by a neutral country, the Sudanese government said Sunday, dismissing that demand and others as “unrealistic”.

The state-run Sudan News agency (SUNA) disclosed that the SLM demanded the cease-fire agreement be observed by a neutral country, under the auspices of the Federal States of Nigeria, the European Union and the Arab League group.

SLM demands also called for the government to recognize the SLM as the sole representative of the people of Sudan’s Darfur region and the hand-over of the military garrison of western Sudan to the rebels.

The Sudanese army announced Saturday that its troops had been attacked twice by the rebels in Darfur within 24 hours.

Following intensive rebel operations the government dissolved the local cabinet of Darfur.