Garang ready for temporary truce after resumption of negotiation

The spokesman of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), Yasser Araman, announced that the rebels of John Garang are ready to commit to a "temporary" cease fire in case of the resumption of peace negotiations with Khartoum.

Araman said that the SPLA still "cling to its position towards inviting the Sudanese regime to the negotiations, with the readiness of the movement for a temporary cease fore during the negotiations in all Sudan." He added "in case the government returns to the table of negotiations, we are ready for days of calm during the discussions phase." He considered that this is "an initiative" from the people's army for the liberation of Sudan. The Sudanese government has repeatedly stressed that it will not resume the negotiations before the rebels will put an end first to the fighting.

On Friday, the US suspended all its humanitarian flights from Kenya to southern Sudan after the Sudanese authorities closed the airspace over this area following the intensified fighting between the army and the rebels.