| Peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur's main rebel movements have been suspended until January, according to a joint statement from the parties released by the African Union yesterday. "The parties undertake to return to Abuja for the next round of the talks on a date in January 2005 to be confirmed by the African Union," it said. The statement reaffirmed the commitment of both the government and the two rebel groups to respect a cease-fire deal signed in April, and called on AU military observers to step up their mission to monitor the frontlines. The decision underlined the failure of the fourth round of AU-sponsored peace talks, which made no progress towards a lasting political settlement after Sudan launched a military offensive in breach of the April deal. But AU chairman President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and other international mediators did manage to persuade both sides to promise to halt the fighting "to create a conducive environment for the next round of talks." "The government of Sudan reaffirms its stated commitment to completely stop its military operations in Darfur and to withdraw its forces to previous positions," the statement said. |