Sudan is ready to resume peace negotiations with the rebels
Sudan-USA, Politics, 9/21/2002

The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael stressed on Thursday that the Sudanese government is ready to resume peace talks which were suspended this month after the Southern Sudanese rebels gained control of Tourit town, but under the condition that the rebels will first cease fire.

In a press statement during his visit to the USA, the Sudanese minister said "what we want from the American people is the help to stop the fighting and reach a peace agreement."

Ismael also denied any involvement by the side of the government forces in the battles which took place recently, and refused claims made by the rebels on that they were exposed to attacks during the peace talks and after the collapse of these talks.

Ismael said that his meeting with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell in New York this week on the sideline of the UN General Assembly is considered the first meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers in 14 years.

Ismael stressed that the Sudanese government is ready to resume the peace talks if the rebels accepts to halt war acts and cease fire, adding that 1000 persons were killed and other 7000 became homeless when the rebels took control of Tourit city.

He stressed that since the Sudanese government signed the Mashakos agreement on July 20 and after signing this agreement, the Sudanese forces have not fire even "one single bullet."

Previous Stories:
  40 killed in south Sudan; British mediator in Khartoum   (9/19/2002)
  Israeli airport for Sudanese rebels; Al-Mahdi denies government contact   (9/18/2002)
  Sudan, French FMs held talks in New York   (9/16/2002)
  Sudan rejects American pressures   (9/9/2002)

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