Khartoum (Fides Service) - "Our delegation intends to see for itself what is happening in Sudan after the start of peace talks in Machakos (Kenya) between the government and the rebels" Fides Service was told by Paolo Ricotti spokesman of the Sudan Campaign association whose aim is to increase awareness among the public of the situation of the people in Sudan. Twenty years of civil war has caused more than 2 million dead and 6 million refugees. The delegation will be in Sudan from 28 January to 7 February to verify results and consequences of the peace process. The delegation will visit Khartoum and other cities in north Sudan and will have meetings with representatives of government, parliament, civil society, the Churches and the media. "Our method is to dialogue with everyone, while denouncing violation of human rights on what ever side this happens. For some time now we have said that the road for peace must pass through the creation of a temporary confederation of the Muslim Arab north with the Christian and Animist black south. After this period of trial, the people should be called to decide with referendum to continue with this solution or create two separate states. This is precisely the formulary being discussed in Kenya at the moment".
In the meantime, from Sudan there are reports of new government attacks on towns in the south, the army took the town of Leer after fierce fighting. LM (Fides Service 30/1/2003)