Peace negotiations to resume in Sudan on August 24th

Following an agreement of principles, the Sudanese sides agreed to resume peace talks on August 24. Both the two rebel movements and the government showed cautious optimism over achieving peace in Darfur.

The envoy of the African union Salem Ahmad Salem urged the sides of the conflict to proceed forward to achieving peace and not to deceive the people of Darfur and their friends in the international community.

For his part, the leader of the Sudan's Liberation Army Abdul, Wahid al-Nour, said during the signing ceremony that this is "the beginning of the road for peace." On the reason behind the delay to signing the agreement, the director of the Sudanees news agency, Rabee Abul Ati, said this is because of the cling of both the two rebel movements to marginal issues. He explained that the two rebel movements tried to get more political gains.

In an earlier statement to al-Jazeera TV, the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir accused the rebels in Darfur of undermining peace talks through asking for unacceptable demands.