Sudanese Darfur rebels block aid pact for refugees

Sudanese rebels insisted yesterday that the government disarm its militias in Darfur before they would sign a deal to bring aid to 1.5 million civilians displaced by violence.

The rebels' reluctance to sign the so-called humanitarian protocol on the second day of peace talks in the Nigerian capital brought the two sides back to the sticking point that caused a round of talks last month to end in deadlock.

"We've told the rebels that for them to be seen as blocking the signature of the humanitarian protocol is not very good," said a European Union diplomat attending the talks.

If signed, the aid deal would be the first meaningful agreement in three rounds of talks that began in July.

On paper it would give aid workers unrestricted access to the area, which is the size of France, commit both sides to preventing attacks on civilians and allow for refugees to return home.