Darfur rebels deny truce with government
A Darfur rebel group denied Friday that it agreed to a cease-fire with the Sudanese government during a meeting this week with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. The cease-fire was “probably made for public consumption as we have not been officially consulted in that regard,” said Abdullahi el-Tom, a leader of the Justice and Equality Movement rebel group. Richardson, who was in Sudan on a mediation mission this week, issued a joint statement Wednesday with President Omar al-Bashir saying both sides in the Darfur conflict had agreed to a 60-day cessation of hostilities while they work toward lasting peace. Full Story