MACHAKOS,
Kenya, August 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A second round of
talks aimed at ending almost 20 years of civil war in Sudan began in
the Kenyan town of Machakos on Monday, August 12, as Sudanese
President Omar al-Beshir said he wants a final peace deal.
The
media were excluded from the opening ceremony of the talks, which
follow a five-week parley between Khartoum's Islamic government and
the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) that ended last month with a
breakthrough agreement between the warring parties, Agence
France-Presse (AFP) said.
Since
1983, at least 1.5 million people have died in the war or related
famines, while some four million have been displaced.
Provisions
for a ceasefire are expected to top the agenda of this round of
negotiations, which are also slated to last five weeks.
Issues
of sharing power and wealth as well as details of a six-year period of
autonomy for the south are also due to feature prominently.
Under
the deal signed last month, the south is due to vote after this period
on whether to secede.
SPLA
spokesman Samson Kwaje told AFP before the talks opened that other
topics up for discussion included the role of SPLA forces during the
interim period and how they will participate in national security.
"We
will (also) discuss the issue of human rights, judiciary and the legal
framework," Kwaje said.
Noting
that Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir had on Friday expressed
willingness to stop fighting, Kwaje accused Khartoum of bombing the
southern Equatoria region on Monday.
"What
the Sudanese government wants to do is to change the order of events
and to have an agreement before a ceasefire, but we cannot stop
fighting until the causes of the war are addressed," he said.
"I
am optimistic about the outcome of the talks because the most
difficult issues of state and religion and the autonomy of southern
Sudan have been solved," he said.
On
the country's considerable oil wealth, he said: "We should get
more than the north so that we catch up in development."
The
government delegation had little to say before the talks opened.
"We
are optimistic that these talks will end the longest sufferings of the
Sudanese people. I hope the SPLA will cooperate," said one
Khartoum delegate, who asked not to be named.
In
Khartoum, President Omar al-Beshir said that Sudanese government
negotiators have "clear orders" to bring home a "final
peace" deal from talks with southern rebels which resumed in
Kenya Monday, AFP said.
"I
have given the delegation clear orders that they have to come back to
Khartoum only with a final peace agreement," Beshir told a rally
of more than 4,000 people.
"We
can rightly celebrate peace as it is definitely approaching ... It is
a matter of days and peace will prevail," he said.
Negotiators
from the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) resumed talks in the Kenyan town of Machakos Monday, buoyed by
a breakthrough July 20 agreement that set out a roadmap for ending
their 19-year civil war.
Beshir
insisted that last month's deal would help maintain the unity of
Sudan, despite a provision for a referendum in six years' time on
independence for the mainly Christian and animist south.
SPLA
leader John Garang, with whom Beshir held a landmark meeting in
Kampala after the deal's signing, had agreed to work towards
"building the new Sudan," he told the crowd in front of the
headquarters of the ruling National Congress.
"Garang
wants to come back home to establish a political party whose
membership will stretch from Wadi Halfa (in the extreme north) to
Nimole (in the extreme south), and we likewise want to extend the
National Congress from Wadi Halfa to Nimole," said Beshir.
"When
confidence between us is restored, Garang and I will unite in one
party."
Meanwhile,
British envoy for Sudan Alan Goulty arrived to Khartoum Monday on a
two-day visit for talks on the Sudan's peace process aimed at ending
the African country's civil war.
Goulty
met separately with Justice Minister Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin and
International Cooperation Minister Karam Eddin Abdel Moula.
"We
have had a good discussion on the need to plan for implementation of
the peace agreement which will be coming soon," Goulty told
journalists after his talks with Abdel Moula.
He
pledged Britain's support to a peace deal.
"I
believe, when a peace agreement is reached, the United Kingdom will be
ready to play a full role in operations for rehabilitation and
development" of Sudan, he said.
The
British official is scheduled to meet with other government officials
in addition to figures from the opposition
