Darfur rebel groups pledge ceasefire

Two main rebel groups in Sudan’s conflict-ridden Darfur region signed a declaration yesterday pledging to adhere to a ceasefire and help facilitate the flow of humanitarian relief aid.

Two main rebel groups in Sudan’s conflict-ridden Darfur region signed a declaration yesterday pledging to adhere to a ceasefire and help facilitate the flow of humanitarian relief aid.

The Tripoli Declaration was part of a drive by Libya to mediate in the Darfur crisis, which has seen both rebels and the government repeatedly call ceasefires and promise to return to negotiations only to have violence continue.

The large Darfur region of western Sudan has been torn by violence since February 2003 in a conflict between non-Arab rebels and government forces, backed by militia allies.

The Arab militiamen in particular are accused of atrocities against non-Arab civilians in the conflict.

The UN estimates 180,000 people have died, mainly from war-induced hunger and disease, and some two million displaced.

The Sudan Liberation Movement, the Justice and Equality Movement and local leaders from north, south and west Darfur regions signed the declaration before Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and Sudan’s State Minister for Humanitarian affairs, Mohammed Youssef.

Representatives from the two groups said on Monday that they would resume negotiations with the government without preconditions.

The declaration said the local rulers would be neutral while dealing with issues arising from the crisis, and a permanent mechanism would be established to facilitate contacts between the concerned parties and to ease the movement of the relief teams.

“On hearing this agreement, the world should respect the Sudanese people and realise that they need no international custody to solve their problems,” Gaddafi said.

Gaddafi has often tried to position Libya as a mediator in African conflicts. The Libyan leader said a mini-summit on Darfur crisis, scheduled to be held in Egypt on Sunday, would instead be held in Tripoli on Monday.

Egyptian officials said they would hold talks about the changing of the venue today.

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