Sudan to Call Darfur Ceasefire Ahead of Talks

Sudan will declare yet another ceasefire in Darfur this weekend, the Guardian reports, as the government sits down with the region’s rebel factions to try to hammer out a peace accord. Government officials called it a “confidence-building measure” designed to “give negotiators a chance to get out with an agreement,” but all previous ceasefires have failed.

The ceasefire isn’t enough for some rebels, who want UN peacekeepers deployed before talks begin Saturday. “This is completely the wrong approach and will only prolong the suffering of the people,” said one leader. Amnesty International accuses Sudan of foot-dragging. “How many more Darfuris must die before the international community responds with the urgency this crisis demands?” asked one Amnesty official. (More Darfur stories.)