Progress made in peace talks
2006-05-04 11:41
Abuja - Sudan appears ready to agree to faster disarmament of Arab militias in Darfur and to accept more rebels into its security forces, key concessions that could clear the way for real progress at the Darfur peace talks.
Sudanese government spokesperson Abdulrahman Zuma said that they were considering the concessions included in a revised peace agreement - drafted with the help of the United States and British diplomats - who intervened a day earlier after rebels rejected an initial, African Union-drafted document.
Zuma said: "Through this so-called American initiative, it seems that the government is going to make some concessions, especially about reintegration and disarmament."
Greater power, wealth sharing
The initial draft called for disarmament of the Arab militias known as Janjaweed, but didn't specify how quickly that would accomplished, nor specified how many rebels would be absorbed into national security forces.
Two Sudanese rebels - close to the negotiations - offered a different version, saying US deputy secretary of state Robert B Zoellick and British cabinet member Hilary Benn were preparing a substantially changed proposal to address their demands for greater power and wealth sharing.
Zuma said the power and wealth-sharing issues already had been settled and were not open to discussion.
Earlier, Jaffer Monro of the main Sudan Liberation Movement, had said that if the initial proposal was not significantly changed, the rebels would press for the United Nations or another body to take over the peace talks.
'Titanic efforts'
The AU had overseen the talks for two years, and its mediators had often expressed frustration at the seeming unwillingness of either side to compromise or adhere to a ceasefire declared in April 2004.
Nouredine Mezni of the AU said African mediators had made "titanic efforts" to produce the draft proposal and that any changes would have to be negotiated by other parties.
The US and British officials appeared to step into that breach. They were sent to Abuja, Nigeria, where the talks were taking place, after thousands of Americans including several legislators protested to demand an end to the slaughter in Darfur.
Sudan 'sponsors of terror'
While the rebels might embrace the US as an alternative to the AU, the American relationship with Khartoum was complicated.
On Friday, Washington counted Sudan among six state sponsors of terror, even while it credited Khartoum with taking significant steps to co-operate in the global war on terror.
A year ago, the UN security council authorised seizure of assets and a travel ban on individuals defying peace efforts or violating human rights law in Darfur.
Those sanctions were imposed for the first time last week against a commander of the Sudanese air force, a Janjaweed militia leader and two rebel commanders.
Stakes in the conflict had increased with oil exploration in Darfur.
- AP