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New violations of ceasefire agreement by Darfur rebels -- Khartoum
 The Sudanese government informed the UN and the African Union Monday on new violations of the ceasefire agreement by rebels in the western troubled region of Darfur. Sudanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs Najeeb al Khair told reporters that the rebels carried out two attacks in the western area of Melim, seized several cars, opened fire on armless citizens, kidnapped seven of them and stole 3,100 camels, during the past couple of days. Khair denounced the incident, considering it a contradiction of the rebels' promises on the security protocol signed in Abuja last December.He also said the assaults abort exerted efforts aimed at making the next negotiations in Abuja a success. He expressed sorrow for the attacks that had taken place while the African Union and international partners were getting ready for the resumption of Abuja negotiations by mid December. Top African negotiator for the Darfur peace talks, Salem Ahmad Salem, is scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday to prepare for the next round of negotiations between the Khartoum government and the rebels in Darfur. Salem would meet president Omar Bashir and his two deputies, as well as head of the negotiating team of the government. Salem will also visit Darfur to get acquainted with security and humanitarian conditions. The government of Sudan and the Darfur rebels signed an agreement of principles last month to pave way for peace in the war-torn province, whose bloody conflict killed over 70,000 people and displaced some two million others.
Posted by: Fred 2005-08-30 |
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