(AFP) – Nov 12, 2008

KHARTOUM (AFP) — Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Wednesday announced an immediate ceasefire in Darfur and called for a campaign to disarm militias which have been ravaging the western region.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions provided that an effective monitoring mechanism be put into action and be observed by all involved parties," Beshir said, according to an official translation.

He was speaking after hearing the final recommendations of the Sudan government-sponsored "people's initiative," which was boycotted by Darfur rebel groups fighting the government for the past five years.

Beshir also called for "an immediate campaign to disarm the militias and restrict the use of weapons amongst armed forces," in apparent reference to the feared Janjaweed militia that Khartoum is accused of backing.

"We confirm out commitment of negotiations to reach peaceful solutions which guarantee the eradication of disputes," Beshir said.

The people's initiative recommendations are expected to lay a foundation for a possible peace conference in Qatar by the end of 2008.

Sudan is pressing a diplomatic offensive to persuade the UN Security Council to delay possible proceedings against Beshir, who could face an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Convincing the international community that Sudan is serious about promoting peace in Darfur, where the government has been accused of brutally repressing a nearly six-year insurgency, has been key to the people's initiative.

Numerous initiatives have tried and failed to bring peace to Darfur, where rebels rose up against Khartoum in February 2003 complaining of marginalisation.

The United Nations says that up to 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million have fled their homes since the Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003. Sudan says 10,000 have been killed.

Beshir was accused by the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in July of instructing his forces to annihilate non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur, masterminding murder, torture, pillaging and the use of rape to commit genocide.

However, no ICC warrant has been issued for Beshir.

Qatar is due to host Sudanese reconciliation talks later this year, which the largest Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement has said it would not join, although it would send observers.

The African Union and the Arab League have asked the United Nations to delay a decision by the ICC on whether to arrest Beshir, and Libya and South Africa in July submitted a proposal supporting this to the United Nations.

In 2007, the ICC issued warrants for a Sudanese minister, Ahmed Haroun, and militia leader Ali Kosheib for war crimes in Darfur.

Sudan says it has detained Kosheib and will prosecute him but says there are no grounds to prosecute Haroun, nor to extradite either of them.

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