Garang refuses ceasefire announced by Khartoum

The leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army, John Garang, refused yesterday in Nairobi the 70-day unilateral ceasefire announced by Khartoum on August 5 in all the southern areas in the cities which have been witnessing a civil war since 1983.

Garang said during a press conference that, "The government is neither serious nor honest as it lies."

The Sudanese government announced a unilateral general ceasefire in southern Sudan starting from midnight Thursday through August 5 in all areas of conflict to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian aid.