/ 9 August 2006

Ugandan rebels abandon peace talks

Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels on Wednesday stormed out of peace talks with the government demanding that the latter declare a ceasefire to help efforts to end their two-decade civil war, officials said.

“We stormed out of the talks after we informed the mediator that we are not ready to proceed with the negotiations until the government declares a unilateral cessation of hostilities,” Obonyo Olweny told Agence France-Presse.

Last week, the LRA declared a unilateral ceasefire in an apparent bid to boost faltering peace talks and urged the Kampala government to reciprocate. The government refused. — AFP