Sudan: Security Council studies peace agreement

The United Nations Security Council today turned its attention to Sudan, studying an agreement reached last week between rebels in the south and authorities in Khartoum, aimed at settling the two-decade old conflict.

The 15-member Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast on the Framework Agreement announced on 24 September between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), the main autonomist group in the southern part of the country.

In a statement released last week, a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Kofi Annan, "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."