Government casts doubt over talks

The Sudanese government has claimed southern rebels have violated an agreed truce, putting in doubt the future of peace talks to bring an end to the country's 19-year civil war. "If the GOS [Government of Sudan] troops are compelled to intervene or [are] thus drawn in any new fighting over there, this could do away with the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] altogether," a statement from the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi said. According to the statement, the forces of a rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A)-allied militia on Thursday morning attacked the towns of Koch and Thorken in western Upper Nile (Wahdah State). No comment was immediately available from the SPLM/A. Western Upper Nile is at the centre of the Sudanese oil industry, and has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent months, with the SPLM/A saying it considers oil installations to be legitimate targets in the war. "This is a dangerous attempt to interfere with the military positioning in a highly sensitive area where a delicate balance currently exists," the government statement said. The government delegation to the peace talks in Machakos, Kenya, has made an official complaint about the attack to the special envoy of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is coordinating the talks. Peace talks between the government and rebels resumed last week after a six week suspension. Government negotiators walked out of the meeting on 2 September, after rebel forces seized the strategic southern town of Torit, Eastern Equatoria. Government troops have since recaptured the town. In the MOU, signed prior to the resumption of talks, both sides had agreed to a cessation of hostilities for the duration of talks. However, even before Friday's allegations, both sides had accused each other of violating the truce. Just ten minutes after the cessation of hostilities came into force, the SPLM/A said government forces had launched an attack in eastern Sudan. And Khartoum has already complained to IGAD over the SPLM/A capture of the southern town of Akobo, Jonglei State, from the Southern Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM), an armed group allied to the Sudanese government.