Exchanging accusations over failing the meeting between Taha and Garang

Khartoum and the southern rebels yesterday exchanged accusations over foiling a meeting which was due in Nigeria between the first deputy of the Sudanese President Ali Othman Taha and the leader of the rebels John Garang.

The Sudanese peace advisory announced that Garang refused to meet with Taha currently in Nigeria in the course of the efforts made by the Nigerian leadership to give a push forward for the peace operation in Sudan.

A statement by the Sudanese advisory broadcast by the Sudanese government on Thursday evening said that the meeting was agreed upon by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and the Nigerian president during a recent Summit and was due on Thursday.

The statement gave no mention to the reasons behind not completing the project or whether another project will be held. Nigeria's capital, Abouja had hosted Sudanese peace talks.

The spokesman for the rebels Yasser Araman said in a statement that "Garang is completely ready to meet with al-Bashir at any time and any place outside Sudan," noting that the date and venue of the meeting are to be set by the two sides later.

A Nigerian official source said on Thursday that Nigeria's President had met with each of Taha and Garang separately in Otta to the southern West of the Country.