Rebels hope to sign full Sudan peace treaty July end

NAIROBI, May 27, 2004 (AP) — The Sudanese government and southern rebels have agreed to hold talks late June to put the finishing touches to the peace treaty ending 21 years of bloodshed, said a spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army Thursday.

Yasir Arman said the parties had agreed to begin the final talks on June 22 in Nairobi. He said the two sides will first work out a comprehensive cease-fire then agree on the details of implementing the accords, hoping to sign a final deal by the end of July.

The warring parties signed three protocols late Wednesday on power-sharing and the administration of three disputed areas in central Sudan , clearing up the last remaining political issues needed for a final peace accord.

All that remains for the two sides to work out are procedural matters to end the civil conflict, in which more than 2 million people died.