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Peace deadline for Ugandan rebels Uganda's peace deadline slipping
(about 2 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. The leaders of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army have not arrived at assembly points in Sudan hours before a deadline expires, officials say.
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. As the midnight (2100GMT) deadline nears, the Ugandan government hinted that it could be extended.
But confusion surrounds the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony. A Sudanese mediator said the LRA had already missed the deadline.
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.
'Violation'
The government and the LRA are due to continue their talks in southern Sudan later this week.
Interior Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda played down the significance of the deadline.
Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny "Generally, the government is happy with the progress over the last three weeks. We have all witnessed a lot of LRA rebels moving to assembly points in southern Sudan," he said.
But he refused to say how many fighters had gathered.
At the Ri-Kwangba assembly point on the Sudan-Democratic Republic of Congo border, mediator Maj Gen Wilson Deng said that 800 LRA fighters had gathered so far but that more still had to come.
"They have missed the deadline and it is going to be considered a violation on their part," he said.
LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny, however, denied that they had broken the terms of the truce agreement signed three weeks ago.
He told the BBC's Focus on Africa that there was a provision for a two-week extension and said the rebels remained committed to the truce.
"Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left," he said.
He would not say how many were left or to give the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony or his deputy Vincent Otti.
Mr Rugunda also hinted at an extension:
"We will discuss with the LRA team about the new deadline for the cessation of hostilities agreement."
ReluctantReluctant
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 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).
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.
The government has said it would set up a legal committee to advise the government on legal issues arising from the peace talks.
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.