Rebel leader warns Sudan peace in danger

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CAIRO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Sudan rebel leader John Garang accused the Sudanese government of procrastinating over a final peace agreement to end the country's long-protracted civil war.

Garang, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army, told reporters in Cairo Wednesday that the government is reluctant to strike a final peace deal because that entails sharing the country's oil wealth.

"We were supposed to resume negotiations and sign two protocols on ceasing fire and implementing what we have agreed upon so far in August and early September but the Sudanese government pretended to be busy with the Darfur case," Garang said.

He argued that "the government is reluctant to sign the final agreement under which it will get only 50 percent of the oil revenues at this time of high oil prices."

Garang warned that any additional delay in resuming peace negotiations "will lead to Sudan's disintegration which is not in the interest of any party."

The rebel leader also denied Sudan's accusations that his group was supplying the rebels in Darfur in western Sudan with weapons.

SPLA is the main militia in the mainly-Christian and Animist southern Sudan which is seeking secession from the country.