Sudan govt, rebels due to meet
2006-06-19 13:54
Khartoum - Darfur rebels were in Khartoum on Monday for the first time since signing a peace deal with the Sudanese government last month to end three years of conflict in the western region.
The delegation from the largest rebel group - the mainstream faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement - was due to hold talks with the government on implementing the agreement signed in Nigeria and prepare a first visit to Khartoum by its leader Minni Minawi.
Delegation head Mohammed Tigani al-Tayeb said: "It is a good-will visit for enhancing dialogue with the government inside Sudan.
"We will explore with government officials the best ways to implement the peace deal.
"We are here to exchange viewpoints on how to make it a success." Tayeb said his group's leader would travel to Khartoum soon, but declined to give a date.
Minawi's SLM faction was the only one of the three Darfur rebel groups to sign the peace deal in Abuja. A rival SLM faction and the Justice and Equality Movement both still had reservations about the agreement.
- AFP