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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ugandan peace deadline extended | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels are to be allowed a few more days to arrive at assembly points in Sudan set up as part of a three-week truce. | |
| Interior Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said he was waiting for ceasefire monitors to give details from reception areas. | |
| LRA leaders had not arrived as the deadline expired on Tuesday. | |
| The peace talks are seen as the best chance of ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, which has led more than 1m people to flee their homes. | The peace talks are seen as the best chance of ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, which has led more than 1m people to flee their homes. |
| 'Violation' | 'Violation' |
| The government and the LRA are due to continue their talks in southern Sudan later this week. | The government and the LRA are due to continue their talks in southern Sudan later this week. |
| Mr Rugunda has played down the significance of the deadline. | |
| Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny "Generally, the government is happy with the progress over the last three weeks. We have all witnessed a lot of LRA rebels moving to assembly points in southern Sudan," he said. | Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny "Generally, the government is happy with the progress over the last three weeks. We have all witnessed a lot of LRA rebels moving to assembly points in southern Sudan," he said. |
| But he refused to say how many fighters had gathered. | But he refused to say how many fighters had gathered. |
| At the Ri-Kwangba assembly point on the Sudan-Democratic Republic of Congo border, mediator Maj Gen Wilson Deng said that 800 LRA fighters had gathered so far but that more still had to come. | At the Ri-Kwangba assembly point on the Sudan-Democratic Republic of Congo border, mediator Maj Gen Wilson Deng said that 800 LRA fighters had gathered so far but that more still had to come. |
| "They have missed the deadline and it is going to be considered a violation on their part," he said. | "They have missed the deadline and it is going to be considered a violation on their part," he said. |
| LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny, however, denied that they had broken the terms of the truce agreement signed three weeks ago. | LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny, however, denied that they had broken the terms of the truce agreement signed three weeks ago. |
| He told the BBC's Focus on Africa that there was a provision for a two-week extension and said the rebels remained committed to the truce. | He told the BBC's Focus on Africa that there was a provision for a two-week extension and said the rebels remained committed to the truce. |
| "Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left," he said. | "Our troops will continue to move to the assembly areas... There are just a few left," he said. |
| He would not say how many were left or to give the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony or his deputy Vincent Otti. | He would not say how many were left or to give the location of LRA leader Joseph Kony or his deputy Vincent Otti. |
| Mr Rugunda also hinted at an extension: | Mr Rugunda also hinted at an extension: |
| "We will discuss with the LRA team about the new deadline for the cessation of hostilities agreement." | "We will discuss with the LRA team about the new deadline for the cessation of hostilities agreement." |
| Reluctant | Reluctant |
| The BBC's Sarah Grainger in Kampala says many Ugandans are sceptical that Mr Kony will appear . | |
| Correspondents say the LRA leaders had been reluctant to show themselves for fear of being arrested under warrants issued by the world court. | Correspondents say the LRA leaders had been reluctant to show themselves for fear of being arrested under warrants issued by the world court. |
| But Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered them amnesty if a solid peace deal is achieved, to the annoyance of the International Criminal Court. | But Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered them amnesty if a solid peace deal is achieved, to the annoyance of the International Criminal Court. |
| The government has said it would set up a legal committee to advise the government on legal issues arising from the peace talks. | The government has said it would set up a legal committee to advise the government on legal issues arising from the peace talks. |
| Jan Egeland, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, has urged the UN Security Council to back the peace process rather than seeking to secure the arrests of the rebel leaders at all costs. | Jan Egeland, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, has urged the UN Security Council to back the peace process rather than seeking to secure the arrests of the rebel leaders at all costs. |
| "This is the best chance we have ever had for peace in northern Uganda," he said. | "This is the best chance we have ever had for peace in northern Uganda," he said. |
| An estimated 20,000 children have been kidnapped during the insurgency, with girls forced to become domestic and sexual slaves and boys turned into child soldiers, according to the UN. | An estimated 20,000 children have been kidnapped during the insurgency, with girls forced to become domestic and sexual slaves and boys turned into child soldiers, according to the UN. |