Sudan leader 'a liar'

By Jonathan Erasmus in Darfur, Sunday Telegraph


Darfur rebels have branded Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir a liar, after his claims last week that the government had secured a ceasefire in the country's war-torn western region.

President Bashir said the government had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire with rebel forces as part of an effort to resolve the crisis in Darfur, where thousands of people have lost their lives in a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

But, speaking exclusively to The Sunday Telegraph, Abdalla Banda, a National Redemption Front rebel commander, said: "We have not agreed any such ceasefire with the government. We have not even taken part in any negotiations for a 60-day ceasefire. Al-Bashir is lying. He is claiming there is a ceasefire only to keep out the United Nations troops." Read more >>>