Chronology of Darfur conflict, peace efforts

May 15, 2006 -(Reuters) The African Union said on Monday two rebel factions from Sudan's Darfur region would have an extra two weeks until the end of May to sign a peace agreement they have so far failed to endorse.

Here is a chronology of the Darfur conflict:

February 2003 - Two rebel groups rise up, saying government neglects arid region and arms Arab militia against civilians.

April 2, 2004 - U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland says "scorched-earth tactics" trigger "one of the world's worst humanitarian crises".

April 8 - Government, SLA and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels agree 45-day ceasefire.

May 7 - U.N. human rights report says Sudanese troops and militia may be guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

May 28 - Government, rebels agree to ceasefire monitors.

March 31, 2005 - The U.S. abstains as the U.N. votes to refer war crimes suspects in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. ICC launches
its formal investigations in June.

March 10, 2006 - The AU extends its Darfur mission until Sept. 30 to buy time to break an impasse over the transfer of peacekeeping duties to U.N. forces.

April 25 - The U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on four Sudanese accused of abuses in Darfur, the first against individuals involved in the conflict.

May 5 - The government of Sudan and a SLA faction sign peace deal. SLA rival faction and the smaller JEM reject the deal.

May 15 - The African Union says the two rebel factions would have an extra two weeks until the end of May to sign a peace agreement.

From: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02694962.htm