AU mediator says rebels can continue reunification inside peace talks

October 27, 2007 (SIRTE) — The African Union envoy to Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim said Darfur rebels can continue their consultations to reunite different factions here in Libya as part of the UN-AU sponsored talks.

The AU envoy said in his speech during the opening session of Darfur peace talks in Sirte that rebels who demand talks delay to achieve reunification process can continue their consultations as part of the current peace negotiations.

Last week around eight rebel groups among those who were in Juba said they would not attend Sirte talks before finding common ground; they further said they want to constitute one delegation for the talks with the government.

The absence so far of eight groups from the disparate SLM/A and the JEM have tempered initial hopes of any real breakthrough in the violence which the United States has termed “genocide”.

The Darfur rebel groups voiced strong accusations against the joint mediation team headed by the AU and UN envoys. In a way that shows the lack of trust and confidence between the two sides.

They accused the mediation of sabotaging reunification efforts in Juba.

Further in a letter sent to the AU-UN envoy six SLM leaders say that the AU played a role in the fragmentation of the rebel groups and encouraged dissidences to join the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in 2006 by Minni Minawi group.

Among the rebels attending are two JEM sub-groups — that of Abu Garda and of Lazraq — as well as the Group of 19. The National Movement for Reform and Development and the United Revolutionary Forces Front have also sent envoys to the meeting in Sirte some 600 kilometres (370 miles) east of Tripoli.

To read Salim Ahmed Salim speech , please go at http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article24464

(ST)