Sudan’s Darfur rebel groups threaten to end Abuja peace talks

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec 20 (AP) — Rebel groups in Sudan’s Darfur region have threatened to end peace talks unless government troops withdraw from Darfur.

Ahmed Tugod, spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement. (AP).

Ahmed Tugod Lissan, a spokesman for both rebel groups, Monday disputed reports that the government had ordered a stop to all military action in Darfur and had asked the rebel groups to do the same.

“What they’re saying and what they’re doing are completely different,” said Lissan. “If the Sudanese government refuses to pull back the troops it will lead to the collapse not only of the talks in Abuja but the entire peace process.”

Lissan said insurgents have received no formal notification of Sudan ‘s unilateral cease-fire offer – he said they had only seen news reports of Khartoum’s offer.

An African Union official said Monday that the Sudanese government, in the same meeting Sunday where it announced the cease-fire, said it was ready to leave territory taken after an April 8 agreement with the rebels, but he could not yet verify that the government had stopped attacking.

“I think it is a short period to evaluate to say they are complying or not,” said Jean Baptiste of the A.U.’s special representative office in Khartoum.

Baptiste confirmed that the Sudanese government had asked the A.U., along with the U.N., to forward a cease-fire request to the rebels, but he said he did know exactly when the cease-fire request would be passed on to rebel leaders.

In Khartoum, Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail announced a cease-fire order, according to the state-run Sudan Media Center.

“Troops in the field have been instructed to immediately implement the decision but be vigilant to apply their (right) of self defense against any (rebel) operation,” said Ismail, according to the SMC.

Tugod warned that the situation in Darfur could turn for the worse.

“The situation on the ground is very serious,” said Tugod. “The Sudan government is building up for war and the war is continuing.”

An official from the National Congress party said it supports the government’s call for a cease-fire.

Ibrahim Ahmed Omar, the Secretary of the National Congress, said “our position is that we are for the cease-fire and the necessity of adopting arrangements by the two sides for pushing forward the peace efforts in Darfur,” according to a statement carried by the Sudan News Agency.