Sudan signs peace deal with Darfur faction

[Sapphire Blue]

Sudan signs peace deal with Darfur faction
Fri May 5, 2006 9:01pm ET
By Estelle Shirbon

ABUJA (Reuters) - The government of Sudan and the main Darfur rebel faction signed a peace agreement on Friday to end three years of fighting that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 2 million to flee their homes.

Majzoub al-Khalifa, head of the government's negotiating team, and rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction leader Minni Arcua Minnawi signed the deal in the Nigerian capital Abuja after days and nights of intense talks under global pressure.

"We are reaffirming that the fighting ends now in Darfur ... We shall go ahead with peace and we shall be serious," Minnawi said at a signing ceremony at the Nigerian presidential complex.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would press Sudan's government to let in U.N. planners to prepare for a peacekeeping mission in Darfur and urged donors to contribute humanitarian aid to people displaced by the conflict.

Continued @ http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-05-06T010149Z_01_L04474552_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUDAN-DARFUR.xml

Highlights of Darfur peace accord

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Highlights of the Darfur peace agreement, as provided by the U.S. State Department:

SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS:

Requires complete, verifiable disarmament of Janjaweed militia by mid-October 2006. Provides milestones such as the containment of Janjaweed and other armed militias into specific restricted areas prior to disarmament, removal of heavy weapons, specific assurances of security in assembly areas of the rebel movements, and other steps to contain, reduce, and ultimately eliminate the threat posed by such forces.

(snip)

POWER SHARING:

Gives the rebel movements the fourth highest position in Sudan's national unity government, the senior assistant to the president and chairperson of the transitional Darfur regional authority.

(snip)

WEATH SHARING:

Creates fund for Darfur Reconstruction and Development.

Calls for a Joint Assessment Mission to determine the specific reconstruction and development needs of Darfur.

Continued @ http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1105AP_Darfur_Talks_Text.html

[LexMan81]

1. who cares..

ll

[uppityperson]

2. I hope that some of this takes place. Good thing to do.

[Robbien]

3. Hope this means a real cease fire

and the reign of terror is over.

Keeping my fingers crossed for Darfur.