Sudanese government accused of breaking peace deal

Sudan rebels claim that government forces have killed over 1,000 people since the peace deal was announced ten days ago in Kenya.

The peace deal, brokered by the United States of America, caters for the possibility of the southern part of Sudan breaking away from the north in 2008, a condition long claimed by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). President Omar al-Bashir and SPLA rebel leader John Garang met President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for the peace talks. Uganda is involved because Khartoum has long accused Kampala of supporting the SPLA, whereas Kampala has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord’s Resistance Army (a rebel group in northern Uganda).

However, Sudanese rebels claim that more than 1,000 people have been killed by government forces in Western Nile province since the agreement was announced. It is reported that the government forces attacked the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army around the town of Tam.

Government-backed militia are also accused of having abducted 4 Kenyan aid workers, employed by World Vision, at Waat, on Monday. Spokespersons for religious organisations within Sudan have confirmed that fighting has broken out and that thousands of people are fleeing.

Norwegian People’s Aid spokesperson Dan Eiffe told Reuters that the fighting was “extremely heavy”

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru

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