African Union (AU) Thursday expressed "deep regret" that a May 31 deadline was ignored by Darfur rebel groups which refused to sign an AU-sponsored peace agreement.

In a statement issued in Khartoum on Thursday, Chairperson of the AU Commission Alpha Oumar Konare said that "with deep regret that despite all the efforts deployed by the AU and its leaders and international partners, as well as the continuing efforts both within and outside the Sudan, Abdu al-Wahid of (Sudan Liberation Movement) SLM and Khalil Ibrahim of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have failed to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)".

"That deadline expired yesterday", the statement said, adding that "the AU Peace and Security Council shall soon meet to consider the necessary follow-up measures to be taken."

The AU Peace and Security Council had urged the SLM faction led by Abdu al-Wahid al-Nour and the JEM led by Khalil Ibrahim to sign the DPA by May 31, 2006, warning of serious consequences including sanctions against those who ignore the deadline.

The Sudanese government signed the peace agreement with Minni Arkou Minawi, leader of the biggest faction in the rebel SLM, in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on May 5.

But both Ibrahim and al-Nour decided to boycott the peace agreement, claiming that it did not meet all their demands.

Referring to the mob violence in an internal displaced persons (IDP) camp in South Darfur State in early May, during which a Sudanese interpreter working with the AU was killed, Konare said that the violence was for the most part instigated by those who opposed to DPA.

He said that Darfur in the past weeks witnessed further deterioration of security, which was characterized by attacks on personnel and property of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), as well as the escort of humanitarian workers and convoys.

"Some of those attacks had led to tragic loss of life," he added.

Konare also warned that future violations of the ceasefire agreement would not be tolerated, adding that AMIS should act proactively to fulfill all aspects of its mandate, including self- defense and the protection of civilian population in danger.

Source: Xinhua