The Sudanese government on Thursday condemned the Darfur rebels' withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement and the humanitarian and security protocols signed in Abuja.  

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail affirmed that the Darfur rebels' decision "is incorrect and lacks wisdom, deliberation and political maturity."

At a press conference, Ismail said "the decision will neither benefit the Darfurians nor the rebels." "Declaring their continuity of the military operations, the rebels will not gain any advantage through arms," said the minister.

He affirmed his trust on the capability of handling all issues through dialogue, pointing out that his government would remain committed to all the agreements and protocols signed with the Darfur rebels.

Ismail also noted that the government was ready for any expected military operations launched by the Darfur rebels and would respond to any aggression.

The Sudan Liberation Movement, one of the two main rebel group sin Darfur, announced Wednesday that it considered the ceasefire agreement it signed with the government last April and other agreements signed in Abuja early this month as "invalid." UN special envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk on Wednesday held the rebels responsible for the recent violations of the ceasefire agreement and demanded the rebels to stop the atrocities.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2004)