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SAYYID AZIM/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kenyan Maasai dancers celebrate Sunday at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya during the signing of Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Sudan’s vice president and the country’s main rebel leader signed a comprehensive peace agreement to end Africa’s longest-running conflict Sunday, concluding an eight-year process to stop a civil war that has cost more than 2 million lives since 1983. f/fafflttyMl rOB International Sorority Zeta Sigma Chapter at USC Spring 'Recruitment ~ January loth - list Informational tables will be located in the 'Russell J-Couse January nth - 13th Seeking freshman through senior women 'Tor questions or information please contact uscgammaphi@hotmail.com "In a shy full of stars there is only one moon" MOUNTAIN patagonia K1= LTV’ I X c m » SC i (in the Vista) y\ ^ Welcome Back Students Columbia's Largest Outdoor Outfitter -Long Johns, fleece jackets&Vests -Men & Women's hiking boots -Light weight rain gear -Tent, Backpacks & Sleeping Bag Rentals -Climbing Gear -Flyfishing Dept y„.m. ...,v Light Weight Trail Running Shoes by: North Face • Vasque ■ Montrail “ VASQUE _ v J 1215 Wayne Street (in the Vista) » Columbia, SC 29201 « 803-799-7571 M-Fri: 10-6:30 • Sat: 10-6:00 ■ Sun:1-5:00 www.backpackerqualitygear.com ■■■" .. ■ --— Sudanese leaders sign peace agreement to end Africa’s longest-running conflict By CHRIS TOMLINSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NAIROBI, Kenya — Sudanese leaders signed a peace deal that, if implemented, will end Africa’s longest running conflict and transform politics in a nation which has spent 40 of the last 50 years at war with itself. Turning the . incredibly detailed agreement into reality, though, may prove more difficult than the eight years of talks required to draft it. Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha and John Garang, chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, signed the peace agreement in a lavish ceremony in neighboring Kenya — where talks were based since 1997. The north-south war has pitted Sudan’s Islamic government against rebels seeking greater autonomy and a greater share of the country’s wealth for the largely animist south. The conflict is blamed for more than 2 million deaths, primarily from war-induced famine and disease. r* “Our people have experienced the bitterness of war ... peace is indeed going to bring our country abundance,” Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir said after witnessing the signing. He said the agreement is not only between the rebels and the government but, “a new contract for all Sudanese.” Garang said the deal will transform the nation, guaranteeing equality for all races, ethnic groups and religions for the first time in the country’s history. “This peace agreement will change the Sudan forever,” Garang told a cheering crowd. The deal calls for an autonomous south with its own army, national power and wealth sharing, religious freedom and a new constitution during a six-year interim period. At the end of that period, the 10 southern states will hold a referendum on independence. This deal is similar to one reached to end the north-south civil war that lasted from 1955 to 1972. That agreement was declared void by the northern government in 1983, setting off this war. “This agreement came as a result of our struggle,” said Abraham Jok, a 29-year-old Sudanese man, who was recruited into the rebel army at the age of 12. Speaker after speaker at the ceremony told the thousands of spectators that the massive problems facing the country — and the dramatic compromises made by both sides — will make implementing the agreement extremely difficult. There are dozens of militias in Sudan loosely allied to both the government and rebels who have not signed on to the deal. And while the north-south conflict may be close to solved, there are major rebel groups in the north, east and western Darfur region that are not part of the peace deal. “A peace settlement that does not seriously address the causes of conflict in Darfur and other areas cannot be comprehensive, nor can it be sustained without community involvement,” Cynthia Gaigals, a spokeswoman for six international aid agencies working in Sudan. “The next six months are the most fragile for this fledgling peace deal.” -1 Thomas Cooper Library Spring 2005 Tours Come see us at the USC Libraries! Take a tour and discover the wealth of resources available to you at the library. One-hour tours will be divided into two parts: a tour of the building for the first half-hour, and a tour of the' electronic resources during the second half-hour. No sign-up is necessary. Just meet the tour guide in the lobby and learn what resources and services are available to you. January 17- January 20, 2005 Tours: Monday at 11:00am Tuesday at 11:00am & 5:00pm Wednesday at 2:00pm Thursday at 4:00 pm The first half-hour will include a visit to several library departments: Circulation, Reference, Government Documents, Education and Science Reference. The second half-hour will focus on the electronic resources: USCAN Web, access to World Wide Web resources, and online database will be demonstrated Currently buying new and used: (803) 454-0610 info@usrecycleink.com US Recycling 1118 Shop Road Columbia, SC 29201 1_ —