Rebels warn on possible collapse of Abuja talks if attacks continue

ABUJA, Aug 29 (AFP) — Sudanese rebel leaders attending African Union peace talks here warned Sunday, during a 24-hour boycott of negotiations, that the conference could collapse because of alleged government attacks in Darfur.

“Between August 26 and this morning a total of 83 civilians have been killed in attacks by Sudanese government forces,” Ahmed Tugod, the chief negotiator of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), alleged.

“If the situation continues this way, it will lead to the collapse of the talks,” he told AFP.

On Saturday the JEM and its ally the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) began a 24-hour boycott of the Abuja talks in protest at alleged government-led attacks on civilians in the war-torn western province of Darfur.

The AU and the Sudanese government have expressed regret over the walkout and hope the rebels will return to the negotiating table by 5.00 pm (1600 GMT).

Tugod welcomed a promise by the AU Ceasefire Commission that it would investigate the allehed breach of an April 9 truce, but warned that the rebels were expecting quick results.

“We are expecting the report of their investigation before meeting resumes today,” he said.

“We are going to attend the meeting today even if the report has not come. But we will raise the issue again with the AU when the meeting re-opens.”

The acting head of the African Union’s conflict management centre, Wane El-Ghassin, told journalists Saturday that AU ceasefire monitors would look into an alleged government attack on August 26 on the village of Yassin.

“This round of allegations is having a direct impact on the talks,” he said.

“Admittedly, our walkout may have slowed down the talks, the inability of of the Sudanese government to disarm and disband the Janjaweed is slowing down the talks the more,” Tugod said.

Sudanese officials attending the Abuja talks have denied that any attack took place.

The UN Security Council deadline for Sudan to disarm Darfur’s pro-government militia and ensure the safety of more than 1.2 million displaced civilians expires Sunday and the body is expected to discuss the issue on Monday.