News Article by AP posted on March 10, 2002 at 17:21:17: EST (-5 GMT)
Sudan signs U.S.-brokered agreement to protect civilians in war
KHARTOUM, Sudan, Mar 10, 2002 (AP) -- Sudan signed a U.S.-brokered agreement on Sunday to protect civilians in the 19-year civil war, seen as a major step in U.S. efforts to calm the hostilities.
The agreement, part of peace efforts led by former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, was signed by the deputy foreign minister, Motrif Sadeeq, and American Charge d'Affaires Raymond Brown.
Sadeeq told reporters after the signing that the agreement included all mechanisms for the protection of civilian infrastructure, and that it defines a civilian as a person not involved in fighting.
The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army was expected to sign the same text.
The U.S. administration had been attempting to press the parties toward peace but suspended the effort last month after an army helicopter attack on civilians assembled at a humanitarian relief distribution point in the south of the country.
The attack killed 17 civilians, the United Nations said, and the Sudanese government later apologized.
The rebels seek autonomy for southern Sudan from the Islamic government in Khartoum and demand religious freedom for the south's animist and Christian people. Since 1983, more than 2 million people have died in fighting and related famines.
Last week, the U.S. State Department said it considered the Sudanese government's show of flexibility to be a start toward getting back to peace discussions. But spokesman Richard Boucher warned "obtaining a signature on an agreement is not our primary objective in the exercise.
"We want the parties to honestly commit themselves to stop attacking innocent civilians," he said.
Danforth has proposed a package of confidence-boosting measures beginning with a cease-fire in the south-central Nuba mountains, a halt to aerial bombardment, the creation of "zones of tranquility" to allow the delivery of aid, and efforts to stop militia members from enslaving civilians.
The Nuba mountains truce, brokered by the United States and Switzerland, went into effect Jan. 22 and five Americans and two Norwegians visited the area last week as part of an international monitoring unit of 10-15 military and civilian personnel.