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Darfur rebel group 'reaches deal' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Sudan and Darfur's most active rebel group have reached a tentative deal, amid hopes it could lead to talks on a peace deal in the war-torn region. | Sudan and Darfur's most active rebel group have reached a tentative deal, amid hopes it could lead to talks on a peace deal in the war-torn region. |
Khartoum and the Justice and Equality Movement agreed to sign a declaration of good intentions on Tuesday. | Khartoum and the Justice and Equality Movement agreed to sign a declaration of good intentions on Tuesday. |
The deal - reached in Qatar - includes an end to attacks on more than two million people in refugee camps and an exchange of prisoners, diplomats say. | The deal - reached in Qatar - includes an end to attacks on more than two million people in refugee camps and an exchange of prisoners, diplomats say. |
However, other rebel groups are refusing to talk to the government. | However, other rebel groups are refusing to talk to the government. |
The BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut, says that much more needs to be done to achieve peace in the region. | The BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut, says that much more needs to be done to achieve peace in the region. |
And hanging over any agreement is a proposed indictment from the International Criminal Court of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir for alleged crimes. | And hanging over any agreement is a proposed indictment from the International Criminal Court of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir for alleged crimes. |
'Intense pressure' | 'Intense pressure' |
The agreement between the Sudanese government and the Jem rebels was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, whose country has been mediating talks under way since last Tuesday. | The agreement between the Sudanese government and the Jem rebels was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, whose country has been mediating talks under way since last Tuesday. |
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"There has been great progress," Sheikh Hamad told reporters in Doha. | "There has been great progress," Sheikh Hamad told reporters in Doha. |
"The content of the agreement, which will be signed tomorrow [Tuesday], has the agreement of all parties," he added. | "The content of the agreement, which will be signed tomorrow [Tuesday], has the agreement of all parties," he added. |
Once the agreement is signed, small teams of negotiators will continue talks, the BBC's Africa editor says. | Once the agreement is signed, small teams of negotiators will continue talks, the BBC's Africa editor says. |
He says that by reaching this deal now, the government in Khartoum is signalling that it is moving on peace - under intense pressure from the international community. | He says that by reaching this deal now, the government in Khartoum is signalling that it is moving on peace - under intense pressure from the international community. |
A Jem spokesperson in London, Haroun Abdul Hami, told the BBC's World Today programme that "we all endorse the peace process". | A Jem spokesperson in London, Haroun Abdul Hami, told the BBC's World Today programme that "we all endorse the peace process". |
"Qatar will be the base of the negotiations and also we are going to endorse the role of... the neighbouring countries of Sudan," Mr Hami continued. | "Qatar will be the base of the negotiations and also we are going to endorse the role of... the neighbouring countries of Sudan," Mr Hami continued. |
"But the most important point is to stop the harassment of our people in the IDP [Internally Displaced People's] camps in addition to [urging] the government not to impede the humanitarian aid to our people." | "But the most important point is to stop the harassment of our people in the IDP [Internally Displaced People's] camps in addition to [urging] the government not to impede the humanitarian aid to our people." |
Speaking to the BBC in New York, the Sudanese envoy to the UN described the agreement as "a very remarkable progress". | Speaking to the BBC in New York, the Sudanese envoy to the UN described the agreement as "a very remarkable progress". |
SEARCH FOR PEACE IN DARFUR May 2006: Khartoum makes peace with main Darfur rebel faction, Sudan Liberation Movement; Jem rejects the dealMay 2007: ICC issues arrest warrant for Sudan minister suspected of Darfur war crimes Jul 2008: ICC calls for arrest of President BashirNov 2008: President Bashir announces ceasefire in Darfur, but fighting continuesJan 2009: Rebels accuse government forces of air raids on Muhajiriya which the army claims to capture in FebruaryFeb 2009: Khartoum and Jem reach a tentative deal in Qatar | |
"It touches also on issues like security and safety of the IDPs and civilians, about which detailed discussions will be resumed in two weeks time," Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad said. | "It touches also on issues like security and safety of the IDPs and civilians, about which detailed discussions will be resumed in two weeks time," Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad said. |
He rejected any suggestion that Sudan was trying to deflect attention away from the proposed ICC indictment of President Omar al-Bashir. | He rejected any suggestion that Sudan was trying to deflect attention away from the proposed ICC indictment of President Omar al-Bashir. |
Last week Sudan's army said it had captured the strategic Darfur town of Muhajiriya after three weeks of clashes with rebels. | Last week Sudan's army said it had captured the strategic Darfur town of Muhajiriya after three weeks of clashes with rebels. |
Thirty people were reported dead in that fighting, and a Jem rebel commander said his forces had withdrawn voluntarily to spare civilians from government air attacks. | Thirty people were reported dead in that fighting, and a Jem rebel commander said his forces had withdrawn voluntarily to spare civilians from government air attacks. |
The United Nations says at least 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million have been displaced since the conflict began six years ago. | The United Nations says at least 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million have been displaced since the conflict began six years ago. |
Fighting started after African groups complaining of discrimination at the hands of Sudan's Arab-dominated government launched a rebellion. | Fighting started after African groups complaining of discrimination at the hands of Sudan's Arab-dominated government launched a rebellion. |
The government admits mobilising "self-defence militias" in response, though it denies links to the Janjaweed, which has been accused of trying to "cleanse" black Africans from large swathes of territory. | The government admits mobilising "self-defence militias" in response, though it denies links to the Janjaweed, which has been accused of trying to "cleanse" black Africans from large swathes of territory. |
The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force, Unamid, remains at only about half its planned strength of 26,000, a year after the UN took joint control of the mission. | The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force, Unamid, remains at only about half its planned strength of 26,000, a year after the UN took joint control of the mission. |
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