Important step toward comprehensive solution: agreement between Sudan and the rebels

The two spokesman for the Sudanese government and the southern rebels of Sudan announced in Kenya yesterday that the two sides reached an agreement on security matters and other important points aiming at putting an end to 20 years of civil war.

The spokesman for the government's delegation Sayed al-Khatib said "we have reached an agreement on the deployment of 'military' forces, its number and other important points which had been points of difference during the talks."

The spokesman for the rebels Kawaji Samsoun stressed "there is progress on the most important issues relating to security and military issues." He added "the agreement is satisfactory for both (the government), and Sudan People's Liberation Movement movement," noting that the "negotiations will proceed forward and we do hope will deal with pending issues."

This agreement, however, comes three weeks after the negotiations in Nivasha between the Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha and the leader of the rebels John Garang. Kawaji Samsoun explained "we agreed on an important withdrawal for the governmental forces from the south and the deployment of the forces of the people's army for the liberation of Sudan in Khartoum and forming units from a joint force in the areas of the southern blue Nile and al- Nouba mountain."

On Sunday, the Sudanese government and the rebels agreed to extend by two months the cease fire which is presumed to end by the end of September. Kenya's foreign minister told journalists that the "two sides extended an agreement to stop fighting for the two coming months." The civil war taking place in southern Sudan since 1983 resulted in killing more than one and a half million and displacement of 4 millions.

On the other hand, the Sudanese army welcomed the extension of the truce with the rebels, but it warned against a state of "no peace, (and) no war."