Sudanese govt says ready to withdraw troops from Darfur

ABUJA, Dec 17, 2004 (Xinhua) — Bugged by pressure both from the African Union (AU) and the international community, the Sudanese government has announced its readiness to withdraw its troops fromthe troubled Darfur region.

Magzoub El-Khalifa, head of government delegation to the AU-Sponsored peace talks in Abuja.

The move, announced by Magzoub El-Khalifa, head of government delegation to the AU-Sponsored peace talks in Abuja, is part of efforts to placate rebel groups back to the Abuja peace talks after they walked out on Tuesday over incessant violations of ceasefire agreements.

He said that government troops had already been ordered to stopfurther attacks in the troubled Darfur region.

“The Sudanese government is ready to withdraw its forces from rebel territories and challenge the rebels to do same,” he stated.

Spokesman for the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army, Adam Ali Chogar has however said that his group would not resume the talks unless the government actually withdraws its troops.

“Our position remains the same. We have not changed. We are notresuming talks unless the government stops the violations and withdraws it troops,” he stated.

Spokesman for the other rebel group, the Justice and Equality Ahmed Tugod, who also addressed journalists, condemned Khartoum for the violations, saying that such would erode the confidence inthe peace talks.

AU spokesman Assane Ba also told journalists that the mediatorsand the joint commission comprising partners like the European Union and the United Nations had condemned the violations.

“We have told all the groups to take seriously all peace agreements signed as no one is here to waste time,” he stated.

UN workers had since left Darfur as constant peace agreement violations had claimed many lives of aid workers.

At least thousands of people have been killed and one million others displaced since the Darfur crisis started two years ago.