The sixth round of African Union-mediated talks to end the Darfur conflict have adjourned for a month with mediators and delegates saying modest progress had been made.
The talks, which began on a sluggish note in the Nigerian capital Abuja in mid-September, were stymied by rebel disunity, growing violence in the western Sudanese region and deteriorating relations between Sudan and the AU.
Much of the negotiation centered on technical points rather than tangible issues of wealth and power-sharing needed to end the conflict, which started in early 2003 and has driven 2 million people from their homes to refugee in camps in the vast arid region and across the border in Chad.
Agreements were reached on human rights and fundamental freedoms and guidelines for power-sharing, while preliminary discussions were held on the federal system of governance, the delegates and mediators said in a joint statement.
They gave no details on the substance of the agreements. The seventh round of talks starts in Abuja on November 20th.
An agenda was also agreed for negotiations on wealth-sharing and informal consultations held on security arrangements and negotiations for a permanent ceasefire in Darfur.
While the two main rebel groups, the main Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), were negotiating peace in Abuja, splinter groups were blamed for attacks on the 6,000-strong force monitoring Darfur's shaky ceasefire agreement.
The SLA/M and JEM launched a rebellion against the Sudanese government more than 2-1/2 years ago, accusing Khartoum of neglect and political and economic domination.