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Peace deadline for Ugandan rebels | Peace deadline for Ugandan rebels |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A deadline expires later for members of the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army to arrive at assembly points set up in southern Sudan. | A deadline expires later for members of the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army to arrive at assembly points set up in southern Sudan. |
More than 400 LRA fighters have already made their way to two neutral zones, as part of a truce signed three weeks ago, the government says. | |
But confusion surrounds the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony. | But confusion surrounds the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony. |
On Sunday, the LRA said Mr Kony was in one of the camps but the government said this could not be confirmed. | On Sunday, the LRA said Mr Kony was in one of the camps but the government said this could not be confirmed. |
The peace talks are seen as the best chance of ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, which has led more than 1m people to flee their homes. | The peace talks are seen as the best chance of ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, which has led more than 1m people to flee their homes. |
Reluctant | Reluctant |
But the BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says many Ugandans are sceptical that Mr Kony will appear by the time the deadline expires. | But the BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says many Ugandans are sceptical that Mr Kony will appear by the time the deadline expires. |
The government says the fighters must all be in the assembly points by midnight on Tuesday (2100GMT). | The government says the fighters must all be in the assembly points by midnight on Tuesday (2100GMT). |
Mr Kony's deputy Vincent Otti was said to have arrived at Ri-Kwangba camp just north of the border with Democratic Republic of Congo last week. | Mr Kony's deputy Vincent Otti was said to have arrived at Ri-Kwangba camp just north of the border with Democratic Republic of Congo last week. |
Correspondents say the LRA leaders had been reluctant to show themselves for fear of being arrested under warrants issued by the world court. | Correspondents say the LRA leaders had been reluctant to show themselves for fear of being arrested under warrants issued by the world court. |
But Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered them amnesty if a solid peace deal is achieved, to the annoyance of the International Criminal Court. | But Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered them amnesty if a solid peace deal is achieved, to the annoyance of the International Criminal Court. |
Jan Egeland, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, has urged the UN Security Council to back the peace process rather than seeking to secure the arrests of the rebel leaders at all costs. | Jan Egeland, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, has urged the UN Security Council to back the peace process rather than seeking to secure the arrests of the rebel leaders at all costs. |
"This is the best chance we have ever had for peace in northern Uganda," he said. | "This is the best chance we have ever had for peace in northern Uganda," he said. |
An estimated 20,000 children have been kidnapped during the insurgency, with girls forced to become domestic and sexual slaves and boys turned into child soldiers, according to the UN. | An estimated 20,000 children have been kidnapped during the insurgency, with girls forced to become domestic and sexual slaves and boys turned into child soldiers, according to the UN. |