Commission: Sudan must withdraw troops from areas it seized from Darfur rebels

N’DJAMENA, Chad, Jan 5, 2005 (AP) — Sudanese troops should immediately withdraw from areas they seized from rebels in Darfur during the last round of peace talks, the joint commission monitoring a cease-fire deal in the region said Wednesday.

Sudanese troops leave the Governor compound in Nyala, South Darfur, Sudan. (file/AFP) .

The two main rebel groups, however, should not seize control of the areas after government troops leave, said the commission, which includes representatives of the rebels, Sudanese government and mediators from Chad.

The commission issued the statement after rebels said they would only go back to the negotiating table once government troops withdraw from areas they seized while peace talks were underway in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The hostilities undermined the Dec. 11-12 talks on a political solution to the conflict that has killed about 70,000 since March, according to aid agencies’ estimates. Most of the victims died from disease, hunger and attacks by a pro-government militia called Janjaweed.

The joint commission again pressed the Sudanese government to quickly disarm the Janjaweed.

Nearly 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Darfur, in western Sudan , since February 2003, when the conflict started after two rebel groups took up arms to fight for greater autonomy.