Darfur rebels say power deal first, disarming later

Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region yesterday rejected calls to disarm or confine their fighters to their bases before a political solution to the conflict is found.

At talks mediated by the African Union in the Nigerian capital Abuja to end 18 months of revolt in remote Darfur, the Sudanese government agreed to enlarge an AU force in the western region as long as it helps confine rebels to their bases, while Sudanese forces would disarm Arab militias known as Janjaweed.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Britain was willing to provide more cash for AU military operations in Darfur. Sudan has already agreed to about 300 AU forces to protect more than 100 observers of a shaky April ceasefire.

But rebels said they would not disarm until a political solution, including power and wealth sharing, is implemented.

"This is impossible. No rebel movement can accept to disarm before a political settlement," said Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, secretary-general of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), speaking by telephone from Darfur.

"And we must be clear, not just after political agreement but after it is achieved - whether it be one year, however long it takes," Mr Garda said. In Abuja, another rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement, said it also opposed garrisoning rebels.

Alex Vines of London's Royal Institute for International Affairs said: "There is an element of brinkmanship, and also a problem of coherency between the rebels in Darfur and those in talks on the outside.

"It is sensible for the AU to provide a protection force now because it is quicker than a political solution. The humanitarian crisis in Darfur cannot wait a year," he added.

The Nigerian talks are aimed at ending a conflict that began with a rebel offensive in February 2003 after years of low-level conflict between Arab nomads and mainly African farmers over scarce resources.

Since then, more than a million Darfuris have fled their homes for fear of attack by Arab militia mobilised by the government as auxiliaries in a campaign to crush the rebels. Khartoum says the attacks on Darfuris were carried out by "outlaws" and it is not responsible for their actions.

The fighting has created what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Up to 50,000 people have been killed.

The UN Security Council has set an August 30 deadline for the government to improve security for refugees and start disarming Janjaweed militias or face possible sanctions.

UN envoy Jan Pronk in a joint tour with Sudanese officials met Darfuri displaced who had been raped and attacked by Janjaweed. Yesterday's visit is his last before he reports to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on how Sudan has responded to Security Council demands.

A UN official travelling in Darfur said some refugees from Chad were returning home in government-controlled safe areas and that the situation had improved.

But Mr Pronk heard stories of rape and continued violence. Refugees also told him Janjaweed had been absorbed into security squads charged with protecting refugees at the camps.

"There is no security in the camp. There are still disturbances. There are still rapes," Darfuri Adam Abdallah told Mr Pronk.

The three-day old talks in Abuja focused yesterday on the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Both sides said they wanted to present reactions to a UN report.

Talks adjourned until tomorrow afternoon as most of the delegates follow the Muslim tradition of taking today as a holiday.