OIC hails cease fire between Sudanese gov't, main rebel group

13:38, 26 February 2010

UNITED NATIONS. February 26. KAZINFORM. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Thursday extended a welcome to the " landmark event" of a ceasefire agreement signed in Doha by the Sudanese government and the main rebel group in Darfur, a Sudanese region; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

This statement was read by Bashar Ja'afari, the Syrian permanent representative to the United Nations, after the OIC Group met at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss the Israeli decision to designate two shrines on the occupied Palestinian territory as its national heritage sites.

"The OIC group in New York welcomes and commends the framework agreement for the resolution of the conflict in Darfur which was agreed and signed in Doha, Qatar on the 23 of February 2010 between the government of the republic of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) towards lasting and durable peace in Darfur," said the statement.

"The OIC reiterates its longstanding support and solidarity with Sudan towards the realization of its aspirations for peace and development," the statement said.

Devastating fighting broke out in Darfur that borders Chad in 2003 between ethnic rebels and the Sudanese government forces leaving around 300,000 people dead and 2.7 million others homeless, the UN estimates; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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