Darfur talks deadlocked over security issues

By Dino Mahtani

ABUJA, Nov 7 (Reuters) – Peace talks between Sudan’s government and Darfur rebels remain deadlocked, with rebels and African Union mediators saying time is running out to forge a deal on security issues for the troubled region.

The talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja are aimed at ending what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, but have become bogged down in disagreements between rebels and Khartoum over a no-fly zone over Darfur.

African Union mediators under international pressure to forge a deal between the two sides have failed to persuade Khartoum to accept the security document they have called the “best possible compromise”.

Top mediator Allam-Mi Ahmad said on Sunday the Sudan government had made numerous concessions but had “taken a particularly hard stance on the no fly zone”.

“If there is a chance of getting a deal, we will seize it, and extend the talks. If not the talks cannot last forever,” he added.

The government objects to the demand that it cease “hostile” flights over the vast western region, while rebels have not been asked to move their forces into barracks.

Rebels say they will not negotiate a political deal with the government without Khartoum first agreeing to sign the security document. The document also asks the government to disarm Arab Janjaweed militias.

Khartoum denies it supports the Janjaweed, calling them bandits, and has asked mediators to insert a fuller definition of what the Janjaweed are, into the document.

Talks did not resume on Sunday to allow mediators time to formulate proposals on a declaration of principles — a basic agenda of the peace deal — for rebels and the government to agree upon before turning back to security issues.

Ahmad said he hoped some sort of deal on the principles and security issues could be reached by Tuesday.

Rebels said talks were reaching the end of their two to three week timetable, and may have to be suspended without a deal, before delegates reconvene for further talks in a few weeks.

The United Nations says 70,000 people have died from disease and malnutrition since March, a figure disputed by Khartoum. More than 1.5 million people have fled their homes as a result of the violence.