Inter Sudanese peace talks starts between Taha, Garang

Kenya's foreign minister said in a press statement yesterday that US Secretary Of State Colin Powell is expected to arrive in Nairobi in order to give a push to the current inter- Sudanese negotiations between the delegations of the government and the southern rebels.

The Kenyan minister added that Powell will seek to convince the two sides to reach a medium solution to matters pending between them in the negotiations.

Sudan's (First) Vice-President, Ali Othman Muhammad Taha and leader of the southern rebels John Garang yesterday in Nivasha, near Nairobi resumed a new round of negotiations.

The meeting started between the delegations of the two sides chaired by Taha and Garang and the presence of Kenya's foreign minister who called on them to continue the negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement.

In an arrival press statement, Taha said "we are determined to solve all pending issues in this round, fully and we hope to reach a comprehensive agreement for peace." Garang said that the talks concerning the sharing of resources will concentrate on the question of oil. In a separate press conference, Garang said that the talks also dealt with the status of the "national capital" and the various aspects of the authority starting from the presidency and the executive; legislative and judicial authority.