UN envoy meets Sudan SPLM over pullout
October 13, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The UN’s top official in Sudan held talks Saturday with a former rebel movement over its controversial decision to withdraw from the government in Khartoum, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said.
“He was briefed on the circumstances of the SPLM decision and on the way forward envisaged by the movement,” said Achouri.
Zerihoun said he was “encouraged” by the talks after the rebels “stated the government of the south will remain engaged in discussions and consultations with their partners (in the north),” according to Achouri.
She said the UN official planned to meet leaders of the National Congress of President Omar al-Beshir “in the coming days”.
Zerihoun informed the SPLM of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s concern over the withdrawal, which has threatened preparations for talks in Libya later this month on the crisis in Darfur.
Ban on Friday called “on both parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to resolve the situation in a manner that preserves the integrity of the Agreement”.
The United States and European Union have also expressed concern at the withdrawal.
EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday are expected to issue an appeal to all factions in Sudan to uphold the peace agreement.
The SPLM said on Thursday it was withdrawing its 19 ministers and deputy ministers from government because Beshir’s party had failed to uphold the 2005 peace agreement which ended a 21-year civil war between the Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south
(AFP)