Sudan: African Union wants rival Darfur forces behind buffer zones

African Union mediators in the Nigerian capital Abuja have proposed putting rival forces in Sudan's Darfur conflict behind buffer zones after ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly ignored. The warring sides first signed a ceasefire accord in the Chadian capital N'djamena in April 2004. But nearly two years on, mediators said on Sunday that that agreement lacks sufficient details to be effective and a new proposal - dubbed the "Enhanced Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement" - has been drafted and presented to the warring sides. "The [draft] agreement specifies that the forces of the government and the two movements withdraw their forces to clearly identified areas, with buffer zones between them," mediators said in a statement, according to Alertnet.