Doubts over the continued Sudanese negotiations

A high ranking official in the Sudanese government said yesterday that peace talks between Khartoum and the rebels of southern Sudan will be halted for one month as from the current week, noting that the first deputy for the Sudanese President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha, who leads the Khartoum delegation in Kenya talks, will return back to Sudan in order to prepare for al-Haj rituals.

Chief negotiator in the talks the Kenyan said that Taha did not show his intention to be absent from the talks or that it will be stopped, adding " I do not think he wants to leave without reaching an agreement."

Sambyou said that there are two "camps in Sudan.. those who want to reach an agreement and those who do not.. that allegation saying he is ( Taha) going for pilgrims might have come from those who stand against the agreement."