Government, Darfur rebels end latest round of peace talks
Sudan's government and rebels were wrapping up a sixth round of talks on the crisis in the country's western Darfur region Thursday. While the negotiators were meeting in Nigeria, violence that included attacks on African Union peacekeepers spiked in Sudan, dimming already slim chances for a breakthrough. Nonetheless, a new round of talks was to open November 15.
The latest round of peace talks had opened September 15 with the rebels fighting among themselves, further undermining a difficult process that has seen earlier rounds make little progress and ceasefires repeatedly violated. "I don't name it failure and I don't call it a success," Yusuf Abdallah, a government negotiator, said of the latest round, adding he was encouraged by a sense of optimism among participants, but found progress coming slowly.
Posted by: Fred 2005-10-21 |