Khartoum ready to negotiate Darfur rebellions, African Union to increase forces
Sudan, Politics, 8/5/2004

Sudan's minister of state for foreign affairs, al-Teijani Saleh Fadeil, said that Sudan is ready to resume negotiations with the two rebel movements in Darfur. But the minister stressed the government's rejecion of any prior conditions by the side of the rebels, saying that " if we accept prior conditions there will be then nothing to negotiate for."

On Wedesday, the African Union announced that negotiations between the Sudanese government and the two rebel movements in Darfur district, to the west of Sudan, will be resumed before the end of August in an attempt to solve the humanitarian crisis in the district. The spokesman for the Union, Adam Thiam, from the headquarters of the federation in Addis Ababa, said that the country which hosts the talks is not specified yet.

Negotiations between the two sides were pended since July 18 after the rebels refused to negotiate unless the Sudanese government agrees to meet their demands and dismantle the weapons of the militias presumed to be supported by Khartoum.

On the other hand, the African federation announced it will inrease number of its forces that will be deployed in Darfur from 300 to 2000. The spokesman for the federation said that this force is working for protecting Darfur and will be enhanced after Nigeria and Rwanda who asked for sending soldiers there.

On Wednesday, scores of thousands of Sudanese demonstrated before the UN office in Khartoum in protest of the UN Security Council resolution over Darfur. They expressed their rejection of any foreign intervention in the district. The demonstrators chanted slogans deploring foreign intervention and others against the US and threatened to declare al-Jihad in case of any foreign intervention in the district.

The demonstration came in protest of a UN Security Council resolution on Friday of giving Khartoum a 30 day grace period to dismantle the weapons of Jangaweid militias.

Previous Stories:
  Arab foreign ministers hold emergency meeting on Sunday on Sudan   (8/4/2004)
  The US welcomes the Sudanese offer   (8/4/2004)
  Rebels suspicious of the offer of sharing wealth in Darfur   (8/4/2004)

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