Rebels reject deal; Darfur talks go on

ABUJA, Nigeria — Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region Sunday rejected a peace proposal that would end a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, but mediators extended the talks for two days under pressure from the United States.

Salim Ahmed Salim, a lead mediator for the African Union, said the talks would continue until midnight Tuesday, pushing back the deadline for talks that have gone on for two years but failed, so far, to halt the bloodshed.

Earlier, the rebels called for changes to the deal — after the Sudanese government indicated it would accept the proposal.

Salim said the bloc had bowed to requests from the United States and others to continue negotiations.

In Washington, actors, athletes, politicians and religious leaders rallied to call attention to the Darfur conflict and urge greater U.S. involvement in ending what the United Nations has called one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

Years of fighting between ethnic groups and Arab militias in western Sudan have left at least 180,000 people dead and about 2 million homeless. Darfur's violence recently spilled into neighboring Chad and threatens to escalate: Osama bin Laden last week urged his followers to go to Sudan to fight a proposed U.N. presence.

Amid the negotiations, the plight of 3 million refugees in Darfur has worsened. The U.N. World Food Program said Friday that it was cutting rations in half, citing a lack of money.

Sudan has indicated it might accept a U.N. force in Darfur to aid African Union troops if a peace treaty is signed, and the head of Sudan's delegation, Magzoub El-Khalif, said Sunday the government is willing to accept a draft resolution circulated last week.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on China and Russia to join the United States in pushing Sudan to accept U.N. forces.

At the rally in Washington, the crowd chanted "Not on our watch" as a parade of speakers lined up for their turn on a stage on the National Mall, the Capitol serving as a backdrop.

"The personal motivation for a lot of us is the Holocaust," said Boston-based Rabbi Or Rose of Jewish Seminarians for Justice. "Given our history and experience, we feel an obligation to stand up and speak out."

The Sudanese government had said it was ready to sign the agreement. But a spokesman for one of Sudan's rebel factions said the proposal does not adequately address implementation or their key demands for a vice president from Darfur and more autonomy. Hahmed Hussein, a spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement, said he was speaking for both rebel factions.

Sudan announced its readiness to sign earlier Sunday — after it became clear the rebels were not ready to reciprocate.

Among other provisions, a draft of the agreement circulated last week called for a cease-fire. But both sides have agreed to a truce before, only to keep fighting, even in the last week. The draft also calls for an infusion of funds.