Senegal stops attacks on rebels

By Chris Simpson in Dakar

Senegal says it has suspended an offensive against separatist rebels in Casamance in the south of the country.

Over the past week, the Senegalese Government has been involved in operations against the rebel Movement of Democratic Forces in Casamance (MFDC) trying to eliminate their bases.

President Wade is pursuing military and diplomatic solutions

Independent reports from the region point to heavy civilian casualties in the fighting while the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says at least 2,000 Senegalese refugees have crossed the border into the Gambia.

The violence comes despite a peace agreement in March between the Senegalese Government and the MFDC.

The government of President Abdoulaye Wade has promised to end the long debilitating conflict and has openly wooed the MFDC.

Peace commitment

Mr Wade says he still believes in the peace agreement and the commitments made to bring refugees back to Casamance and revive the economy of Senegal's southern region.

At the same time the Senegalese army has staged repeated offensives against separatist hardliners.

Their aim is to destroy their network of bases and isolate their leader Salif Sadio, who has reportedly rejected all peace moves from Dakar.

President Yaya Jammeh of neighbouring Gambia is supposed to be hosting new peace talks on Casamance next week, bringing together rival factions of the MFDC and regional leaders.

But there are fears that the latest fighting may bring a new polarisation between the Senegalese Government and the separatists that could make any future dialogue extremely difficult.