Sudan: Annan welcomes accord on interim security arrangements

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed an agreement on security arrangements between the Sudanese Government and the main autonomist group in the southern part of the country, widely seen as a key step in talks aimed at ending the two-decade old conflict, and urged both sides to maintain the momentum.

"The Secretary-General was encouraged by the news that today the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) initialled a framework agreement on the security arrangements for the interim period," a statement issued by his spokesman said.

"He highly commends the commitment and personal efforts of First Vice-President of the Sudan, Ali Osman Taha, and Chairman of the SPLM/A, John Garang, who have been engaged in direct talks in Naivasha, Kenya, for over three weeks," the statement added. "The Secretary-General urges the parties to sustain the pace of the talks and reach a speedy settlement of the conflict."