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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Darfur's rebel groups reach deal | Darfur's rebel groups reach deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Most of Darfur's rebel groups have agreed on a common position and want "final" talks with Sudan's government within two or three months. | Most of Darfur's rebel groups have agreed on a common position and want "final" talks with Sudan's government within two or three months. |
| The eight factions have been in talks since Friday to end their divisions - seen as a major factor in the failure to end the four-year conflict. | The eight factions have been in talks since Friday to end their divisions - seen as a major factor in the failure to end the four-year conflict. |
| However, one of the key rebel leaders boycotted the meeting in Tanzania. | However, one of the key rebel leaders boycotted the meeting in Tanzania. |
| The agreement follows last week's decision to send 26,000 UN and African Union peacekeepers to Darfur. | The agreement follows last week's decision to send 26,000 UN and African Union peacekeepers to Darfur. |
| The factions had reached a "common platform on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, security arrangements, land and humanitarian issues, for the final negotiations", they said in a statement. | The factions had reached a "common platform on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, security arrangements, land and humanitarian issues, for the final negotiations", they said in a statement. |
| The talks in Arusha were due to end on Sunday but were extended by a day. | The talks in Arusha were due to end on Sunday but were extended by a day. |
| Optimism | Optimism |
| "We have a collective and joint negotiating position, which I believe is very fruitful and very constructive, and positive," said rebel leader Ahmed Hussein. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY All I need to see is the joint AU and UN forces in Darfur protecting the people Kulang, Juba, Sudan Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY All I need to see is the joint AU and UN forces in Darfur protecting the people Kulang, Juba, Sudan Send us your comments |
| "And I think it's going to pave the way for a meaningful and positive new political process to solve the root causes of the conflict in Darfur." | "And I think it's going to pave the way for a meaningful and positive new political process to solve the root causes of the conflict in Darfur." |
| One of the key rebel leaders, Abdul Wahid Mohammad Ahmed al-Nur, of the major faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, boycotted the talks. | One of the key rebel leaders, Abdul Wahid Mohammad Ahmed al-Nur, of the major faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, boycotted the talks. |
| The African Union special envoy to Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim, told the BBC that Mr Nur should take the current opportunity to put aside his differences and join the peace process. | The African Union special envoy to Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim, told the BBC that Mr Nur should take the current opportunity to put aside his differences and join the peace process. |
| "One thing that I can say without any contradiction is that they [the rebel groups] have really done their level best to present a common position, to work towards a united position when it comes to the negotiations," Mr Salim said. | "One thing that I can say without any contradiction is that they [the rebel groups] have really done their level best to present a common position, to work towards a united position when it comes to the negotiations," Mr Salim said. |
| Common denominator | Common denominator |
| "We are now at the pre-negotiation level, and we hope that the negotiations will begin within the period of two months." | "We are now at the pre-negotiation level, and we hope that the negotiations will begin within the period of two months." |
| KEY REBEL PLAYERS SLM: Minni Minnawi's faction signed 2006 peace deal SLM: Abdul Wahid Mohammad Ahmed al-Nur's faction rejected peace deal Jem: Khalil Ibrahim, one of the first rebel groups, rejected dealRebel negotiator: Suleiman Jamous SLM Unity: Abdallah Yehia UFLD: recently formed umbrella group including SLM commanders Other breakaway SLM commanders: Mahjoub Hussein, Jar el-Neby and Suleiman Marajan There are estimated to be more than 13 rebel factions in Darfur | KEY REBEL PLAYERS SLM: Minni Minnawi's faction signed 2006 peace deal SLM: Abdul Wahid Mohammad Ahmed al-Nur's faction rejected peace deal Jem: Khalil Ibrahim, one of the first rebel groups, rejected dealRebel negotiator: Suleiman Jamous SLM Unity: Abdallah Yehia UFLD: recently formed umbrella group including SLM commanders Other breakaway SLM commanders: Mahjoub Hussein, Jar el-Neby and Suleiman Marajan There are estimated to be more than 13 rebel factions in Darfur |
| "It is not seen as logical to have the government of Sudan negotiating with 10 or 15 difference factions, so we have encouraged all the participants at the Arusha meeting to... find a minimum common denominator among themselves," he said. | "It is not seen as logical to have the government of Sudan negotiating with 10 or 15 difference factions, so we have encouraged all the participants at the Arusha meeting to... find a minimum common denominator among themselves," he said. |
| At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless since 2003. | At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two million have been left homeless since 2003. |
| Sudan's government and pro-government Arab Janjaweed militias are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population, although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide. | Sudan's government and pro-government Arab Janjaweed militias are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population, although the UN has stopped short of calling it genocide. |
| The talks follow last week's UN Security Council resolution to send 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur. | The talks follow last week's UN Security Council resolution to send 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur. |
| Though the fighters in Arusha have welcomed the announcement that more peacekeepers will be deployed, they know that a political solution is the only way forward, says BBC Africa analyst David Bamford. | Though the fighters in Arusha have welcomed the announcement that more peacekeepers will be deployed, they know that a political solution is the only way forward, says BBC Africa analyst David Bamford. |
| After months of wrangling, Sudan agreed to the UN resolution after it was watered down. | After months of wrangling, Sudan agreed to the UN resolution after it was watered down. |