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Ugandan negotiators leave talks Ugandan negotiators leave venue
(30 minutes later)
Ugandan government negotiators have left talks in southern Sudan following delays in agreeing a peace accord. Ugandan government negotiators have left the jungle venue in southern Sudan where a peace deal was due to be signed with the Lord's Resistance Army rebels.
The team's chief negotiator, Ruhakana Rugunda, said they would return if the rebel group was ready to sign. Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said they would return if the rebel group was ready to sign.
Earlier the chief negotiator of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), David Matsanga, resigned. Earlier, LRA negotiator David Matsanga resigned after LRA leader Joseph Kony failed to sign the deal on Thursday.
Dr Matsanga's resignation came amid continued delays to a final peace agreement with the government aimed at ending twenty years of conflict. Rebel and government mediators had been gathered in a clearing on the Sudan-Congo border for the ceremony.
Rebel and government negotiators had been gathered in a clearing on the Sudan-Congo border waiting for the LRA leader Joseph Kony to sign the agreement. The BBC's Sarah Grainger in southern Sudan says mediators and the United Nations had transformed the bush close to the venue of the signing ceremony into an elaborate camp, complete with electricity and a hot buffet and had flown in dozens of journalists to report on the event.
But officials say Mr Kony refused to come out of hiding to sign at an official ceremony on Thursday until key issues are clarified. But officials say Mr Kony has refused to come out of hiding to sign until key issues on war crimes are clarified.
The Ugandan-LRA conflict has cost tens of thousands of lives and is notorious for atrocities against children. Mr Matsanga told journalists he was tired of the situation and did not feel he could do anything more.
Dr Matsanga told journalists he was tired of the situation and did not feel he could do anything more.
He also admitted that he had not spoken to Mr Kony for four days.He also admitted that he had not spoken to Mr Kony for four days.
The two-decade conflict has cost tens of thousands of lives and is notorious for atrocities against children.
Communication breakdownCommunication breakdown
The BBC's Sarah Grainger in southern Sudan says there has been very little communication between Mr Kony and others at the peace talks. "We are going back to Uganda until we are informed by the chief mediator when the Lord's Resistance Army will be ready to sign," Mr Rugunda said.
The LRA are notorious for mutilating victimsThe LRA are notorious for mutilating victims
Our correspondent says there has been very little communication between Mr Kony and others at the peace talks.
Mr Kony sacked his previous negotiator in December and brought in Dr Matsanga in January.Mr Kony sacked his previous negotiator in December and brought in Dr Matsanga in January.
He has signed a number of interim deals on behalf of Mr Kony since then.He has signed a number of interim deals on behalf of Mr Kony since then.
Mr Kony and two of his commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague for alleged war crimes.Mr Kony and two of his commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague for alleged war crimes.
During peace talks, which began in 2006, it was agreed that a special division of the Uganda High Court would be set up to try those accused of serious crimes.During peace talks, which began in 2006, it was agreed that a special division of the Uganda High Court would be set up to try those accused of serious crimes.
But news agencies reported that Mr Kony wanted further reassurances about the mechanisms that would be used to try LRA members for war crimes.But news agencies reported that Mr Kony wanted further reassurances about the mechanisms that would be used to try LRA members for war crimes.
If the deal is signed, the rebels will then have 30 days to assemble in southern Sudan before disarmament and demobilisation are scheduled to begin. When a deal is signed, the rebels will have 30 days to assemble in southern Sudan before disarmament and demobilisation are scheduled to begin.
LRA negotiators have already said their fighters will not disarm unless the ICC arrest warrants are removed. But LRA negotiators say their fighters will not disarm unless the ICC arrest warrants are removed.
Announcing the delay to the signing, South Sudan's Vice-President Riak Machar sounded upbeat, and said he hoped it would still happen before the end of the week. The signing ceremony was first postponed last week at Mr Kony's request.
But correspondents say the resignation of Mr Matsanga has thrown some doubt on proceedings. It was rescheduled to take place on Thursday at a camp in the jungle town of Ri-Kwangba in southern Sudan.
The signing ceremony was supposed to go ahead last week but was postponed at Mr Kony's request.
The signing was rescheduled to take place on Thursday at a camp in the jungle town of Ri-Kwangba in southern Sudan.
Our correspondent says mediators and the United Nations have transformed the bush close to the venue of the signing ceremony into an elaborate camp, complete with electricity and a hot buffet.
They have flown in dozens of journalists to report on the event.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is due to sign separately on Monday in southern Sudan's capital, Juba.