Darfur On The Edge

CNN is reporting that a peace agreement is in the works that could end the violence in Darfur. Not a moment too soon.

The main rebel group has tentatively agreed to a peace deal with the government during talks in Abuja, Nigeria, according to a U.S. diplomat advising the talks.

The United Nations says 180,000 people have died from illness and malnutrition since rebels began attacking in February of 2003, and some 2 million have been forced from their homes.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, who's attending the talks, told The Associated Press on Friday that participation by Minni Minnawi, who leads the largest rebel group, has been key.

"Today the largest group, Minni Minnawi's, has agreed to sign and the government of Sudan have agreed to sign as well," Zoellick told AP.

"Not all the movements are in accord, but we're already getting phone calls that people with (rebel faction leader) Abdel Wahid (Nur) believe he has made a mistake."

Two smaller rebel groups have not yet backed the deal which, AP reports, includes disbanding of the government-backed Arab "janjaweed" militias. The militias are blamed for killing and raping villagers and burning villages of mostly black Africans.