Darfur rebels reject invitation to hold talks with Sudan’s govt in Ethiopia

ASMARA, May 22, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) has announced its rejection of the proposal to hold talks on next Wednesday, 26 May with Sudanese government in Addis Ababa as requested by the African Union, the London based Al-Hayat newspaper reported yesterday.

The deputy chairman of the opposition Federal Alliance, Sharif Harir, said SLM – which recently announced its merger with Federal Alliance – views the Ethiopian capital as not being appropriate for its delegation to attend intensive meetings in discussing the issue of forming commission to supervise of the cease-fire agreement which was signed between Darfur rebels groups and the Sudanese government in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, last month.

He said the Ethiopian government has security agreements with Khartoum government. He further said the SLM suggests the meetings to be held in any other country which does not have strong security cooperation with the Sudan’s government.