Envoys urge Ugandan peace talks

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Sixteen diplomatic missions in Uganda have called on the government and Lord's Resistance Army rebels to resume stalled peace talks in south Sudan.

Correspondents say the statement in effect rejects last month's rebel request for the talks to be moved.

The LRA said they would not take part in further talks unless they were hosted by Kenya or South Africa, as they no longer felt welcome in Sudan.

The talks had been seen as the best chance to end the 20-year conflict.

Some 2m people have fled their homes and thousands of children have been abducted by the LRA.

February deadline

"We call on all parties to prove their commitment to the talks process and make the most of this opportunity to build a lasting and peaceful solution to this conflict," said a statement signed by 14 representatives of countries, as well as the European Commission and the UNDP in Kampala.

LRA fighters assembled at two areas in southern Sudan late last year following a ceasefire agreement with the Ugandan government, but the long-running peace talks have since stalled and the rebels have returned to the bush.

They are supposed to return by 28 February but complain they are being attacked by the Ugandan army - a claim it denies.

Last month, south Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar and mediator of the talks denied that the LRA had been asked to leave.

The LRA want him to be sacked as chief mediator after comments by Sudan's president saying they were no longer welcome.

Correspondents say another sticking point that has yet to be discussed at the talks is the issue of reconciliation and accountability.

LRA leader Joseph Kony and three of his top commanders are wanted on war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court and have indicated that no deal can be signed while warrants for their arrest remain in place.