afrol News, 27 June - Eight Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel negotiators quit peace talks with government yesterday, blaming their leader, Joseph Kony for thwarting peace process.

Mr Kony who failed to sign peace deal reached in March this year, demanding withdrawal of warrants of arrest by International Criminal Court (ICC) is blamed for frustrating peace talks to end more than two decades of insurgency in the country.

ICC issued warrants in 2005 accusing LRA commanders, including Kony for rape and mutilation of civilians, forced recruitment of child soldiers and massacre of thousands of people.

Mr Kony called for resumption of peace talks after getting pressure from DR Congo and other Ugandan neighbours to back government to act against country's rebels after peace talks in April ended without a breakthrough.

Eight of the 13-member LRA negotiating team told reporters in Kampala they were leaving the peace process. "Mr Kony is the problem, we don't want to be blamed for the failure of bringing peace to northern Uganda," said legal adviser Mr Caleb Alaka.

South Sudan's Vice-President Mr Riek Machar, who chaired the Juba peace talks, said he is not giving up on the negotiations until Uganda's government and rebels have agreed on demobilisation of armed rebel forces.

Uganda began negotiations with insurgents in 2006 to end the brutal war that has left thousands dead or mutilated and close to 2 million others displaced in its northern region.

LRA has been on a campaign since 1986, seeking to overthrow the Ugandan Government. Although LRA does not seem a serious threat to the stability of government, violence perpetuated on citizens frustrates the country.

Uganda had in 2002 conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern Sudan with the permission of the Sudanese Government, which has in the past supported LRA.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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