Sudanese parties claim peace

2004-05-12 12:13

Washington - The Sudanese government and southern rebels have told the United States they have agreed to the terms of a peace deal to end their long-running civil war and will be able to sign a formal agreement "any day now," the state department said on Tuesday.

"They have indicated to us that they have reached agreement and that they expect to sign a deal but we have not seen that happen in actuality yet," spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The top US diplomat for Africa, Charles Snyder, was flying to the site of the peace talks in Kenya on Tuesday to assist the parties in putting the agreement in writing, Boucher said.

Snyder "is heading out there and representatives of other governments are heading out there to help the parties achieve what they tell us they have achieved, which is (that they have) reached agreement and are getting ready to sign," he told reporters.

- AFP