Opening Ceremony in Ethiopia for Key S. Sudan Peace Talks
Regional mediators formally opened a new round of South Sudan peace talks Tuesday with an opening ceremony held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, an Agence France Presse correspondent said.
The talks, involving representatives of President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, are set to begin in earnest on Wednesday morning and are aimed at addressing the root causes of the nearly two-month-old conflict in the world's youngest nation.
The ceremony was marked by angry recriminations as each side accused the other of violating a ceasefire agreement that was signed in Addis Ababa on January 23.
"We are deeply disappointed and dismayed by the flagrant and repeated violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the other party," said the head of the government delegation, Nhial Deng Nhial.
He nevertheless said the government "reiterates its commitment to the negotiations."
The head of the rebel team, Taban Deng, meanwhile lashed out at neighboring Uganda for sending in troops to support President Kiir.
He branded Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni a "a new colonialist" who has "opted for a long civil war" in South Sudan.
But he said the rebels "have come to this phase of the peace talks and we shall not waste time or leave any stone unturned."
Source: Agence France Presse
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