Sudanese rebels and the government met in the Kenyan town of Machakos Monday for the start of peace talks widely viewed as the best chance yet of ending Sudan's nearly two-decade war.
The negotiations, scheduled to last around five weeks, are the sequel to a first round of talks held in July that yielded a major breakthrough and raised hopes a comprehensive cease-fire could be within reach.
"I hope that we will finally conclude a comprehensive peace agreement," Sudanese charge d'affaires in Kenya Ahmed Dirdeiry said shortly after arriving in Machakos, a rural town some 80 kilometers from Nairobi. "We will push for a cessation of hostilities during the talks, but if the fighting continues, anything we agree will be undermined," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
