Sudan downplays deadline

The US is putting pressure on both sides to end the war

Sudanese officials have played down American predictions of a peace deal this year to end the Sudanese civil war.

US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said on Wednesday that the warring parties had promised to conclude a final deal by the end of December.

But Sudanese presidential aide Ghazi Salaheddine told AFP news agency: "It is impossible for anyone to dictate a date on the two parties that are negotiating."

Speaking after the Sudan visit of Mr Powell, US officials maintained that the deadline was reached very carefully and with the "full consent of the leaders".

But Mr Salaheddine said the time frame was not a deadline but "an expression of the desire to redouble efforts to reach an agreement".

Rebel spokesman Samson Kwaje also maintained that he felt the deadline was realistic.

"The issues are moderately soluble. I think we have got over the hardest hurdles," he told the BBC's Network Africa.

Future

After meeting representatives of both sides, Mr Powell said they would be invited to the White House by US President George W Bush for a signing ceremony once a comprehensive agreement is completed.

The 20 years of fighting pitting rebels from the Christian and animist south against the Islamic government has left more than 1.5 million people dead.

This is a moment of opportunity that must not be lost Colin Powell US Secretary of State

Sudan's Vice President Ali Osman Taha and southern rebel leader John Garang both said they were determined to reach a peace settlement at the talks, in the Kenyan lakeside town of Naivasha.

But they pointed to the difficulties which still lay ahead.

"The issues are not easy, but with determination and commitment, we can overcome," Mr Taha said.

"We have surmounted one hill and there are a series of hills to surmount hopefully by December," said the rebel leader.

High hopes

The BBC's Alfred Taban in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, says people's hopes have been raised that peace can come and US sanctions on Sudan can be lifted.

However, he says that Islamist groups are unhappy with the US involvement in the Sudanese peace process, accusing the Americans of backing the southern rebels.

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"I can see the end is in sight," Mr Powell said.

"This is a moment of opportunity that must not be lost... the way is now open for a final and comprehensive solution."

Mr Powell said it was essential to move forward to an agreement to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.

He said leaders on both sides had to complete "the final stage of this marathon" so that Sudan could "experience a new way of life unclouded by the suffering of war."

Previous talks ended last month with an agreement on security during a six-year transition period, before a referendum on the future of the south.

The key remaining issues to be discussed include the distribution of Sudan's oil wealth and how power will be shared in the capital.

BBC Africa reporter Martin Plaut says US concerns over fighting terrorism, ensuring access to Sudanese oil and supporting the country's Christian south all play a part in Washington's interest in the peace process.

Regional observers say without US pressure, the Sudanese peace talks would never even have begun.

They say the US also has the power to either aid or severely hinder both sides should negotiations fail.