Sudan peace talks extended to September 20

KHARTOUM, Aug 16, 2003 (dpa) — The Sudanese government said Saturday the peace talks in Kenya, which are reportedly in trouble, had been officially extended by mediators from the regional group Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Vice President Ali Osman Taha told reporters that he hoped the extension meant the warring parties would sign a peace accord.

“What we require is that we should work collectively to surpass all obstacles preventing the signing of peace agreement,” Taha said, warning the press not to tackle issues which could damage the talks.

Most Khartoum independent dailies carried a report on Saturday quoting Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) spokesman Yasser Saeed as saying the talks were on “the verge of collapse”.

The Sudan Government and the southern-based SPLA rebels are still far from compromising on the political status of the capital, power- sharing, security arrangements, and the distribution of wealth despite an interim period to resolve such issues stipulated in the July 2002 Machakos Framework.

The peace talks started Monday in the Kenyan mountain resort of Nanyuki following intensive mediation from countries in the region, the international community and the United States.

Some two million people have reportedly died in the 20-year conflict between the northern Moslem government and rebels from the Christian and animist south.