Sudan peace deal 'bad' for Darfur

The deteriorating security situation is hampering aid efforts

Rebels in western Sudan have accused the government of redeploying soldiers not needed after the peace deal with the south to the civil war in Darfur.

Justice and Equality Movement rebel leader Colonel Omar Adam told the BBC "the government is preparing for war".

He said he had seen both heavy and light weaponry arriving.

The UN has warned that intense violence could break out if swift action is not taken over the security situation in Darfur.

Pessimism

Colonel Adam congratulated Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader John Garang over Sunday's peace deal ending the 21-year war in the south.

Celebrations greeted the historic signing in Nairobi

However, he said he disagreed with Mr Garang's optimistic view about the impact the deal could have on the two-year conflict in the west, which has seen some two million people displaced and an estimated 70,000 killed.

"I don't believe that having the SPLM in government will help us. It doesn't give me hope," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has visited the southern town of Malakal as part of a tour of the region to publicise the deal.

He told local people: "From now on, there will be no more fighting, but development and prosperity."

Build-up

At the weekend, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the government had started a massive build-up of forces and logistics in Darfur and said they were still using the Janjaweed Arab militia in their operations rather than bringing them to justice.

Mr Annan says Khartoum is again using militia in its operations

He also accused both the government and rebels in Darfur of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement.

The UN Security Council has passed two resolutions threatening sanctions against Sudan if the violence in Darfur does not end.

But the members are unable to agree on the next step. The latest monthly UN report is due to be discussed by the Security Council this week.

On Monday night, African leaders called on states within the continent which had agreed to deploy peacekeeping forces to ensure their commitments were honoured in time.

The slow deployment of AU troops in Darfur has been criticised with only a quarter of the planned 4,000-strong force in place.