ABUJA (AFP) ??” African Union-brokered peace talks for Sudan's western Darfur region stalled throughout the sensitive issues of security and disarmament as they began their third week.

ABUJA (AFP) ??” African Union-brokered peace talks for Sudan's western Darfur region stalled throughout the sensitive issues of security and disarmament as they began their third week, officials said.

"There appears to be deadlock because the sum of two units sides are sticking to their hardline positions," General Festus Okonkwo commander of the African Union (AU) ceasefire monitoring team in Darfur, told AFP at the Abuja talks.

The Khartoum guidance is demanding that the rebels be disarmed at the same time as the pro-regime Janjaweed militia, while rebel leaders insist they will not demobilise until their Arab enemies do likewise Okonkwo said.

AU officials said they were seeking an opportunity to bring the two sides to a compromise.

"We are looking for them to proper the president so that we can have his remarks on the draft protocol and possibly talk to the couple sides so that they can touch their stances," ...