AU threatens to treat Darfur insurgents as war criminals if peace deal not signed in next 10 days

The African Union threatened on Saturday to treat insurgency movements' leading members refusing to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement as criminals of war if they did not sign the document within the next ten days, Kuwait News Agency reported May 6, 2006 - excerpt:

The African Union President said in statements quoted by the Sudanese daily "Akhbar Al-Youm" that a period of 10 days had been granted to insurgency movements that had not signed the agreement, following which the file would be referred to the African Peace and Security Council and then on to the UN Security Council.

He reaffirmed the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1591 and said that leading members of the armed movements were criminals of war and would be trialed as such.

The Sudanese government and the Leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Meni Arkowi Menawi had signed a peace agreement yesterday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, which would end the conflict in Darfur.

Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign the agreement despite relentless efforts by mediators.

Deliberations are to take place at a later date so as for parties that signed the agreement to set a date for its implementation.