29 Aug 2009

The war in Sudan's troubled western region of Darfur has apparently ended despite many obstacles still remaining in the way.

The UN peacekeepers say that the war between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels has finally ended although they admit that many problems are still to be resolved.

However, the rebel groups believe that the war will be over only when a comprehensive peace agreement between the two sides is achieved.

"I don't know how they can consider that war is over in Darfur. The war is not over. The war is over when there is a comprehensive peace agreement," said Tahir al-Faki, spokesman for leading rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

In the wake of several surges of violence, the number of deaths attributable to the conflict has dropped below 100 a month, say leaders of the joint UN-African Union (UNAMID) peacekeeping forces in Darfur.

"As of today, I would not say there is a war going on in Darfur," Martin Luther Agwai, the outgoing UNAMID military commander, told reporters.

presstv