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UN aid chief willing to meet Kony UN aid chief willing to meet Kony
(30 minutes later)
United Nations aid chief Jan Egeland has told the BBC he could meet Uganda's rebel leader, if abducted women and children are released first.United Nations aid chief Jan Egeland has told the BBC he could meet Uganda's rebel leader, if abducted women and children are released first.
Rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) officials have said their leader Joseph Kony wants to meet Mr Egeland, who is due to arrive in East Africa shortly.Rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) officials have said their leader Joseph Kony wants to meet Mr Egeland, who is due to arrive in East Africa shortly.
The LRA wants the UN envoy to get war crimes charges against Mr Kony dropped.The LRA wants the UN envoy to get war crimes charges against Mr Kony dropped.
The rebel leader refuses to attend talks aimed at ending the 20-year conflict in case he is arrested.The rebel leader refuses to attend talks aimed at ending the 20-year conflict in case he is arrested.
Thousands of children have been forced to fight for the rebels during the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda.Thousands of children have been forced to fight for the rebels during the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda.
War crimesWar crimes
"If he [Kony] is willing to release some of the children and the women they have abducted, I would be willing to see him," Mr Egeland told the BBC's World Today programme."If he [Kony] is willing to release some of the children and the women they have abducted, I would be willing to see him," Mr Egeland told the BBC's World Today programme.
Mr Egeland is due to arrive in Kenya on Friday, before travelling to the southern Sudan's capital, Juba, which is hosting the Ugandan peace talks.Mr Egeland is due to arrive in Kenya on Friday, before travelling to the southern Sudan's capital, Juba, which is hosting the Ugandan peace talks.
He is also set to travel to Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur. He is also set to travel to Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur in his last tour of Africa before standing down next month.
The LRA want Mr Egeland to use his influence to get the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague to drop war crimes charges against Mr Kony and three other top rebel commanders.The LRA want Mr Egeland to use his influence to get the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague to drop war crimes charges against Mr Kony and three other top rebel commanders.
Mr Kony refuses to attend the talks, saying he fears being arrested and is said to be hiding in jungles in eastern Democratic Republic of CongoMr Kony refuses to attend the talks, saying he fears being arrested and is said to be hiding in jungles in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Last week the government and LRA signed a new truce to try to revive the stalled talks.Last week the government and LRA signed a new truce to try to revive the stalled talks.
Under an August agreement, the rebels were supposed to gather at two points by mid-September. But both sides violated the deal.Under an August agreement, the rebels were supposed to gather at two points by mid-September. But both sides violated the deal.
The new truce allows the rebels another month to go to these assembly points in southern Sudan, which are now surrounded by buffer zones.The new truce allows the rebels another month to go to these assembly points in southern Sudan, which are now surrounded by buffer zones.
Tens of thousands of people have died and more than one-and-a-half million displaced as the LRA attacked civilians and abducted children in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.Tens of thousands of people have died and more than one-and-a-half million displaced as the LRA attacked civilians and abducted children in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.
The ICC said recently that it was waiting for the outcome of peace talks before deciding on how to proceed with cases against the rebel leaders.The ICC said recently that it was waiting for the outcome of peace talks before deciding on how to proceed with cases against the rebel leaders.
The Ugandan government says it will not consider an amnesty for the men until a peace deal is reached.The Ugandan government says it will not consider an amnesty for the men until a peace deal is reached.