Uganda's government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army are to sign a landmark total ceasefire on Friday, opening the way for an end to a bloody 18-year insurgency, the chief negotiator said on Wednesday. The LRA, whose only stated aim is to rule the east African country by the biblical Ten Commandments, has rampaged through the north of Uganda, attacking civilians, kidnapping children and forcing 1.6 million people to flee to refugee camps. "This is a very important day because the government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army rebels have just agreed to sign the agreement to end hostility before this year ends," chief negotiator and former government minister Betty Bigombe told reporters. Both sides expressed hope the ceasefire would bring an end to the war. They had been holding talks at Kitgum district of northern Uganda on the Ugandan-Sudan border, with leaders from the LRA, government ministers and senior clergymen meeting Bigombe. It was not immediately clear what concessions, if any, either side made to secure the total ceasefire, which Bigombe said would not be limited by time or scope unlike previous cessations in hostilities. --More 2251 Local Time 1951 GMT
