Darfur peace talks resume

ABUJA - Negotiators for Sudan's government and for two Darfur rebel movements have launched a new round of peace talks in Nigeria.

However, there are concerns that disunity among rebels could hinder progress.

The sixth round of negotiations in a year started with a plenary session at which the top African Union (AU) mediator told the parties they had to make a much greater effort than previously to achieve peace.

"While it is true that peace negotiations by their very nature are complicated and time consuming, the inter-Sudanese talks have been extremely difficult and at times seem to have been conducted with complete disregard to the imperatives of the situation on the ground in Darfur," said Baba Gana Kingibe.

The conflict in the vast desert region of western Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and driven 2 million into refugee camps in Darfur and neighbouring Chad. Fighting has subsided and aid flows have increased since last year, but the humanitarian crisis remains acute.

AU troops in Darfur have reported cease-fire violations, including in the days running up to the new round of talks.

Khartoum's chief negotiator, Majzoub al-Khalifa, accused the rebels of breaching the cease-fire but said there were some improvements on the ground that represented a window of opportunity for the talks.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the larger Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) took up arms in early 2003 over what they saw as neglect and discrimination by the government. Khartoum responded by backing militias that attacked civilians and drove many from their villages, according to the rebels.

A Nigerian official said the delegates would relocate later in the round of talks to a venue near Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's private farm in Ota, southwest Nigeria, where a "more serene atmosphere" would help things along.

- REUTERS