THE AFRICAN UNION TEAM MEDIATING IN THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN'S WESTERN DARFUR REGION ON SUNDAY IN NIGERIA PRESENTED A FINAL DRAFT AGREEMENT ON SECURITY TO THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT AND REBELS, WHICH THEY HAVE A DAY TO CONSIDER, DPA REPORTED. THE SECURITY COORDINATOR OF THE AU NEGOTIATING TEAM, NIGERIAN ARMY GENERAL CHRIS GARUBA, SAID IN ABUJA THAT THE DOCUMENT PROVIDED FOR THE DISARMAMENT OF GOVERNMENT-BACKED "JANJAWEED" MILITIAS. THE INTEGRATION OF FORMER COMBATANTS INTO NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REINTEGRATION WERE ALSO PROVIDED FOR IN THE DOCUMENT, HE SAID. THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT AND THE TWO REBEL GROUPS ARE EXPECTED TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT - A MOVE THAT WOULD SIGNAL AN END TO THE HOSTILITIES. THE AFRICAN UNION HAS SET A DEADLINE OF APRIL 30 FOR AGREEMENT ON A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE PACKAGE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS ON POWER AND WEALTH SHARING IN DARFUR - ISSUES AT THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT. SUDANESE VICE-PRESIDENT ALI TAHAL IS HOLDING TALKS WITH THE REBELS ON THE SIDELINE OF THE TALKS IN NIGERIA.
