Peace talks adjourn for three weeks

The Sudanese peace talks were adjourned on Monday for three weeks to allow negotiators to perform the Muslim pilgrimage, the hajj, and to give them a break, according to a Sudanese official. Ahmad Dirdiery, the Sudanese deputy ambassador in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, told IRIN on Tuesday that apart from the fact that some people involved in the negotiations wanted to perform the hajj, "the talks have been going on for 58 days continuously and we needed a break to consult with constituencies". However, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army spokesman, Samson Kwaje told IRIN that "there was no reason for the adjournment. We have promised the international community and the Sudanese people a peace deal by the end of January and we should have delivered." He added that the hajj was being used as a pretext to avoid difficult and unresolved issues, which concerned the disputed regions of Abyei, Blue Nile and the Nuba mountains. The two sides signed a deal earlier this month on wealth-sharing, but have not yet agreed on power-sharing and the three contested areas. Meanwhile, a statement issued by the regional Inter-Governmental Authority On Development said "substantial progress was made on resolving the outstanding aspects relating to two of the conflict areas of southern Kordofan [Nuba Mountains] and Blue Nile". It added that the two parties had agreed to extend the ceasefire for further one month "from 1st to 29 February". The statement noted that when the talks reconvened, all questions about the three disputed areas, power-sharing and "all other issues related to the implementation of the agreement" would be finalised.