Sudan, the rebels resume peace negotiations

Peace negotiations were resumed yesterday between the southern Sudanese rebels and representatives of the Sudanese government in Nairobi after they were halted on Monday because of the mutual accusations over violating the ceasefire.

A source close to the negotiations who requested to be anonymous said that the issue of violating the ceasefire will be studied separately, noting that the committee in charge of studying the issue of sharing resources between Khartoum and southern Sudan started its works yesterday.

The source added that a team for civilian protection and monitoring will head to southern Sudan to investigate these mutual accusations.

The southern Sudanese rebels asked for halting the negotiations for one day, accusing Khartoum of attacking three cities the rebels used to control. For its part, the government said that the rebels violated the cease fire.

Worthy mentioning that the two sides agreed during the first series of the negotiations in July 20002 in Kenya that southern Sudan will enjoy self rule for a period of six years before holding a referendum on self- determination.

The two sides also agreed during the second series of negotiation in November 2002 to extend the truce cosigned in October and to continue the negotiations until March this year.