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| Uganda's LRA confirm Otti death | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The second in command of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels, Vincent Otti, is dead, south Sudan's deputy leader Riak Machar has confirmed. | The second in command of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels, Vincent Otti, is dead, south Sudan's deputy leader Riak Machar has confirmed. |
| "I was officially informed by [LRA leader] Joseph Kony that Vincent Otti is dead," said Mr Machar, who is mediating peace talks in south Sudan. | "I was officially informed by [LRA leader] Joseph Kony that Vincent Otti is dead," said Mr Machar, who is mediating peace talks in south Sudan. |
| He broke the news after meeting members of LRA negotiating team, following their return to the talks venue. | He broke the news after meeting members of LRA negotiating team, following their return to the talks venue. |
| The LRA had previously insisted Mr Otti was alive and under house arrest. | The LRA had previously insisted Mr Otti was alive and under house arrest. |
| 'Absent' | 'Absent' |
| Mr Machar, who has been mediating the peace talks in the southern Sudanese capital, Juba, since they began in July 2006, said he was told of Mr Otti's death by a special envoy sent by Mr Kony. | Mr Machar, who has been mediating the peace talks in the southern Sudanese capital, Juba, since they began in July 2006, said he was told of Mr Otti's death by a special envoy sent by Mr Kony. |
| They did not tell me whether he was killed or he died of disease Riak MacharSouth Sudan's vice-president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7083311.stm">Obituary: Vincent Otti | |
| "The word used was that Mr Vincent Otti is absent. And when I asked if "absent" was dead, they said yes," Mr Machar told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | "The word used was that Mr Vincent Otti is absent. And when I asked if "absent" was dead, they said yes," Mr Machar told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. |
| "They did not tell me whether he was killed or he died of disease," he said. | "They did not tell me whether he was killed or he died of disease," he said. |
| His statement is the first authoritative confirmation of deputy LRA leader's death, which Mr Machar said probably occurred on the 3 November. | His statement is the first authoritative confirmation of deputy LRA leader's death, which Mr Machar said probably occurred on the 3 November. |
| Late last year, Mr Kony said Mr Otti was under arrest for being a government spy. | Late last year, Mr Kony said Mr Otti was under arrest for being a government spy. |
| But a diplomatic briefing, based on witness testimony, alleged Mr Otti was executed by fellow officers on Mr Kony's orders. | But a diplomatic briefing, based on witness testimony, alleged Mr Otti was executed by fellow officers on Mr Kony's orders. |
| New team | New team |
| Mr Machar also confirmed that the LRA has changed its negotiating team, with David Masonga taking over from Martin Ojul as the team leader. | Mr Machar also confirmed that the LRA has changed its negotiating team, with David Masonga taking over from Martin Ojul as the team leader. |
| Mr Masonga told the BBC that the previous delegation was dragging its feet and not making progress towards a peace settlement, expected by March. | Mr Masonga told the BBC that the previous delegation was dragging its feet and not making progress towards a peace settlement, expected by March. |
| Mr Machar also said that the LRA has given an assurance that they are ready to resume talks as early as next Monday with the Ugandan government. | Mr Machar also said that the LRA has given an assurance that they are ready to resume talks as early as next Monday with the Ugandan government. |
| Mr Otti was one of four other LRA commanders wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed during their 20-year insurgency. | Mr Otti was one of four other LRA commanders wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed during their 20-year insurgency. |
| Mr Kony, who is one of those indicted, is in hiding in the remote north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. | Mr Kony, who is one of those indicted, is in hiding in the remote north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| The LRA were notorious for mutilating victims and kidnapping children to be fighters, porters and sex slaves. | The LRA were notorious for mutilating victims and kidnapping children to be fighters, porters and sex slaves. |