Direct talks due between government and rebels

Direct negotiations between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) were due to begin on Monday after a week spent deliberating the agenda, the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported. The current round of negotiations is being held in the Kenyan town of Machakos. SUNA said the announcement was made by Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Atabani, the presidential adviser on peace affairs. He said documents presented by international experts and discussed by the warring parties included wealth-sharing at national and state level, and power-sharing arrangements. Meanwhile, President Umar al-Bashir on Monday reaffirmed his government's commitment to the provisions of the Machakos peace agreement, signed between the two sides last month, Sudanese radio reported. He said he hoped agreement would be reached between the government and the SPLM during this second round of talks, and stressed the need to present the agreement to the public, saying the option of unity would be left to the Sudanese people.