FACTBOX-Key facts about Darfur

May 15, 2006 -(Reuters) The African Union said on Monday that 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 are some key facts on the Darfur crisis:

WHAT HAPPENED:

* Rebels in the vast region the size of France took up arms against the government in February 2003 saying the Sudanese government discriminated against mostly non-Arabs in Darfur.

* More than 2 million civilians, mostly subsistence farmers, have fled their homes to camps in Darfur and across the border into Chad to escape the fighting and raids by government-backed militias. The United States has called the violence genocide. The Sudanese government admits to arming some militias to quell the rebellion but denies links to Janjaweed militias accused of rape, murder and looting.

* The U.N. has estimated at least 180,000 people have died in Darfur from fighting, hunger and disease. There are no official tolls of those killed in violence.

NEGOTIATIONS:

* A Darfur ceasefire was agreed in April 2004 and the African Union (AU) eventually sent some 7,000 troops with a mandate to monitor the peace and protect those displaced in the camps. Since then the ceasefire has been frequently violated by all sides, according to the AU.

* After days of negotiations in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the government and a Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction said signed peace terms on May 5 with reservations over power sharing and security.

* A rival faction of the SLA and the smaller Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rejected the deal.

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

CHARGES

* In June 2005 the International Criminal Court announced a formal investigation into suspected crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region. Sudan's government says it will not allow ICC investigators to work in Darfur.

* The U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions on four Sudanese accused of abuses in Darfur, the first against individuals involved in the conflict.

From: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08444580.htm