'Positive' Talks Between Darfur Rebels, Sudan Govt

by Faisal Baatout Faisal Baatout – Wed Feb 11, 4:56 pm ET

DOHA (AFP) – The chief of a Darfur rebel group and a senior Sudanese government official held "positive" talks in the Qatari capital on Wednesday, representatives of both camps said.

Leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Khalil Ibrahim and the head of the government delegation, presidential aide Nafie Ali Nafie, had their first direct talks in Doha, the representatives said.

"The atmosphere during the meeting was positive and promising," said JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam at the end of the talks, which focused on a study of a document prepared by mediators.

"Khalil Ibrahim confirmed the willingness of the movement to reach a political solution based on the principle of a united Sudan as well as structural changes to find a solution to the roots of the conflict," Adam said.

The discussions will continue on Thursday when the JEM will present its "visions and comments" on the document, he added.

A member of the government delegation, Yasser Arman, said they had emerged "optimistic" from Wednesday's "positive" discussions.

The meeting follows initial contacts between lower-level delegates in Doha on Tuesday which marked the first peace contacts between the two sides since 2007.

JEM representative Jibril Ibrahim -- Khalil's brother -- had on Tuesday warned the new contacts could only pave the way for substantive peace negotiations if the government was prepared to accept the winding up of allied Arab militias in Darfur and allow high-level rebel representation in the central government.

He said confidence-building measures should include the release of JEM prisoners and the expansion of aid deliveries to rebel-held areas.

The rebel group, he added, expected to "retain its fighters during a transition period ahead of a final peace deal which would provide for their integration in the regular army."

Earlier Wednesday, the JEM accused Sudan of lacking seriousness in the peace talks, citing what it said were troop movements towards its positions.

"We were told this morning by mediators about Sudanese troop movements no more than three kilometres (less than two miles) from our positions," spokesman Adam told AFP.

"This is yet more proof of the government's lack of seriousness and the fact that it does not feel engaged by the peace process."

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