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| Darfur rebel group signs accord | Darfur rebel group signs accord |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sudan's most active rebel group has signed an agreement which paves the way for broader peace talks aimed at ending the six-year conflict in Darfur. | Sudan's most active rebel group has signed an agreement which paves the way for broader peace talks aimed at ending the six-year conflict in Darfur. |
| The declaration of intent was sealed a day after the deal was announced between Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement and the Khartoum government. | The declaration of intent was sealed a day after the deal was announced between Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement and the Khartoum government. |
| The accord was struck in Qatar, which has been mediating a week of talks. | The accord was struck in Qatar, which has been mediating a week of talks. |
| It includes an end to attacks on more than two million people in refugee camps and an exchange of prisoners. | It includes an end to attacks on more than two million people in refugee camps and an exchange of prisoners. |
| But hanging over the agreement is a proposed indictment from the International Criminal Court of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir for alleged crimes. | But hanging over the agreement is a proposed indictment from the International Criminal Court of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir for alleged crimes. |
| And other rebel groups are refusing to talk to the government. | And other rebel groups are refusing to talk to the government. |
| 'Remarkable progress' | |
| The signing between the Sudanese government and the Jem rebels was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. | The signing between the Sudanese government and the Jem rebels was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. |
| "I am very optimistic, as both sides are determined to end this conflict," the Qatari PM was quoted by AFP news agency as saying at a news conference after the signing. | "I am very optimistic, as both sides are determined to end this conflict," the Qatari PM was quoted by AFP news agency as saying at a news conference after the signing. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| BBC's Africa editor Martin Plaut 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. | BBC's Africa editor Martin Plaut 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. |
| 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". |
| "It touches also on issues like security and safety of the IDPs [internally displaced people] 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. |
| Jem spokesman Dr Eltahir Adam Elfaki told the BBC the key stumbling block of prisoner exchanges had been overcome. | Jem spokesman Dr Eltahir Adam Elfaki told the BBC the key stumbling block of prisoner exchanges had been overcome. |
| "There was a big problem with the release of prisoners and those who have been convicted or detained by the Sudan government and by us," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | |
| "Now that has been settled and both parties commit themselves to the release of the prisoners of war between the two parties. | "Now that has been settled and both parties commit themselves to the release of the prisoners of war between the two parties. |
| SEARCH FOR PEACE IN DARFUR May 2006: Khartoum makes peace with main Darfur rebel faction, Sudan Liberation Movement; Jem rejects the dealMay 2008: Unprecedented assault by Jem on KhartoumJul 2008: ICC calls for arrest of President BashirNov 2008: President Bashir announces ceasefire Nov 2008: ICC calls for arrest of three rebel commanders Feb 2009: Army claims its captured key town of MuhajiriyaFeb 2009: Khartoum and Jem sign a deal in Qatar class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/827425.stm">Timeline: Sudan | |
| "This will mean now both parties will stay in Doha, will start putting together the jigsaws for the actual framework agreement [that] will lead to the cessation of hostilities." | "This will mean now both parties will stay in Doha, will start putting together the jigsaws for the actual framework agreement [that] will lead to the cessation of hostilities." |
| A Jem spokesperson in London, Haroun Abdul Hami, told the BBC's World Today programme: "The most important point is to stop the harassment of our people in the IDP camps in addition to [urging] the government not to impede the humanitarian aid to our people." | |
| 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. |
| Are you in the region? What do you think about the agreement? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the region? What do you think about the agreement? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |