The Government, JEM and the Sudan Liberation Movement Army have attended these talks.

Establishing consistent liaison with the Sudan Liberation Movement Army has been hampered by divisions within the group.

These AMIS patrols have reported that the SLM A commanders have attempted to justify their refusal to grant access on the grounds that AMIS was conducting espionage against SLM A, without attempting to substantiate the allegation.

At the request of AU, the United Nations provided air transportation to the talks for some delegates from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and SLM A, including a group of commanders from SLA.

Contrary to many people's expectations, the Sudan Liberation Army did not launch an attack on the day of the signing of the peace agreement.

There also seems to be more confidence in the peace process among commanders of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) on the ground.

This was swiftly followed by Government attacks on SLA positions in the same area.

However, renewed fighting between the Government of the Sudan and SLM A on 23 July threatens to complicate further the next round of talks.

Second, the fighting and resultant reactions to it reveal the growing divide within SLM A.

Divisions within the rebel movements, particularly SLM A, are likely to be a challenge during the talks.

The Government stated that it had used aircraft for observation during the attack and denied claims by SLA that it had struck villages from the air.

As a result, this vaccination campaign was not able to reach people living in some areas where SLA is active.

Sufficient funds were expected to be received to finance disarmament and demobilization activities to be carried out with the Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Army (SPLM A), the two main parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

This appeared to be the result of a lack of willingness of the negotiators of the Sudanese Liberation Movement Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, in particular genuinely to engage on these issues.

In particular, he travelled to Darfur, where he impressed upon the Secretary General of SLM A, Mini Arkoy Minawi, the importance of his presence in Abuja.

SLM A also attacked the village of Wazazen, also in Southern Darfur, leading to the deaths of two villagers and the wounding of three others.

The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) attacked two convoys that were being escorted by Government security forces on 23 July on the Nyala El Fasher road.

In addition, AMIS is now frequently confronted by local SLM A commanders who deny their patrols access to an increasing number of rebel held areas.

It demands the SLM A, the JEM and the Government of the Sudan to immediately cease violence, comply with the N'Djamena ceasefire agreement, end impediments to the peace process and cooperate fully with the African Union Mission.

The SLM A Sudan Liberation Movement Army and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) are also failing to abide by the commitments made under past agreements and are doing far too little to control their men under arms'.

Early in March, he travelled to Asmara together with his Principal Deputy to meet with the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, and the leadership of SLM A and JEM.

As stated in my report on Darfur dated 11 August 2005 (S 2005 523), the Government of the Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLM A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) adopted a Declaration of Principles at Abuja on 5 July 2005.

I strongly urge SLM A to resolve its internal differences and to attend the sixth round of talks prepared to negotiate and reach agreement on the relevant substantive issues.

However, frequent Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) JEM, militia and bandit attacks on humanitarian convoys, in particular in Southern Darfur, continue to hamper efficient operations.

As Council members are aware, the AU led Abuja talks are aimed at reaching a political agreement between the Government and the two armed movements SLM A and JEM.

During the reporting period the principal rebel groups, the Sudanese Liberation Movement Army (SLM A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), fought with the Government army and or Janjaweed on at least seven occasions.

My Special Representative and his staff continue to engage with SLA, tribal leaders and the Government to ensure that they take active steps to support humanitarian assistance and ensure the safety and security of all humanitarian staff and supplies.

At the time of the signing of the communiqué, the armed rebellion launched in Darfur by the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLM A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had been under way for almost 18 months.

Kelmendi is a veteran of the Kosovo war led by the Kosovo Liberation Army, 1998 1999.

The abduction of national staff of non governmental organizations reached alarming proportions at the beginning of July, with 10 members of non governmental organizations being held by SLA.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Government of the Sudan, the LRA is running out of places to hide in southern Sudan and they are being forced to give up their terrorist activities.

In Lukulu (Western Province) people have formed a group called Barotse Liberation Army, they are recruiting people.

I urge the Government, SLM and JEM, with the support of SPLM, to resume negotiations in Abuja as a matter of the highest priority so that they can conclude a lasting agreement.

The LRA is also wreaking havoc in the Equatorias in the southern Sudan.

Notwithstanding the successful outcome of the latest round of talks in Abuja, divisions during negotiations led to clashes between SLM A and JEM on the ground in June.

The leadership of the Government, SLM A and JEM have reiterated their readiness to find a political solution to the crisis, while also asserting that the security situation on the ground does not permit them to return to the negotiating table.

In addition, those members of the international community with the means and opportunity to influence the posture of the parties, including SLM A, must try to steer the current round of talks in Abuja towards a positive outcome.

After the rise of an Albanian insurgency, the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), Milosevic launched a violent, all out campaign to expel Kosovo s Albanians.

Attendance at a high level by all parties will be important to ensure that decisions taken in Abuja are implemented.

These detentions have normally been on specious grounds, and have followed attempts by non governmental organizations to document the rapes of internally displaced persons, to follow up on protection incidents, or provide humanitarian assistance in SLA areas.

The clearest trend to emerge over the present reporting period is a considerable rise in abductions, harassment, extortion and looting, by both the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement Army (SLM A), victimizing civilians and jeopardizing humanitarian activities.

In the most recent, on 26 March, Government troops and tribal militias attacked SLM A positions near a cluster of villages roughly 80 kilometres north east of Nertiti in Western Darfur.

UNMIS is supporting efforts aimed at ensuring a unified SLM position at the current round of talks.

The Commission had previously attempted to meet on 8 and 9 September in N'djamena, but neither JEM nor SLM A sent representatives, claiming that the Government of Chad was not neutral in the peace process.

(d) Rebel armed groups. They include forces of the Sudan Liberation Movement, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Movement for Reform and Development.