Sudan, Darfur rebels to sign partial peace deal

ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov 9, 2004 (AP) — Sudan’s government and rebels agreed Tuesday to sign fresh accords meant to stop hostilities and guarantee access to 1.6 million people displaced by violence in the nation’s troubled western region of Darfur.

For the first time, Sudan’s government agreed to renounce “hostile” military flights over Darfur, apparently setting up a no-fly zone demanded by rebels amid widespread accusations of government bombings of villages.

Both sides also agreed to allow aid groups free access to civilians, according to Sudanese government negotiator Najib Abdel-Wahab and Mahgoub Hussain of the rebel Sudan Liberation Army.

Sudan’s Arab-dominated government is accused of mobilizing the militia for attacks on Darfur’s non-Arab villagers in retaliation for uprisings launched by two rebel movements in February 2003. Arab herdsmen have long competed for resources with Darfur’s non-Arab population. The government denies backing the militias.

International agencies estimate that, since March, disease, malnutrition and clashes among those made homeless by the violence have killed more than 70,000 of Darfur’s displaced. Many more have been killed in fighting since the conflict broke out in February 2003, although no firm estimate of the direct toll of the war yet exists.