Sudanese government declares comprehensive ceasefire in all operation zones

The Sudanese government announced a unilateral comprehensive ceasefire in all operations zones in Sudan starting from yesterday at midnight and lasting until October 15 to facilitate rescue operations for the injured.

A statement by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry yesterday expressed hopes that the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement headed by John Garang will initiate a similar initiative to end the inhabitants suffering and hasten steps toward a comprehensive solution.

Sudan said that within its adherence to facilitating humanitarian aid and avoiding any deterioration in the situation, the government paid a special concern to the comprehensive ceasefire and backed it as a basic stance during the former rounds of negotiations with the SPLM, including the most recent round in Nairobi.

The statement accused the SPLM of being an obstacle to achieving the ceasefire, with maneuvers aimed at benefiting from the ceasefire to redeploying its troops and attack other sites, causing displacement and hunger for the inhabitants of those areas.

It added, "The war resulted in humanitarian suffering for large groups of the south's inhabitants, against which the government in association with the international community worked, as well as giving an ultimate priority to avoiding and handling the humanitarian problems of its citizens in the war areas."

It said the government took unprecedented steps, whether in the national arena or through machinism of cooperation with United Nations through its Operation Lifeline Sudan program.