ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal, Aug 21 (AFP) - Separatist rebels in Senegal on
Wednesday said they had patched up their internal differences, and called on
the government of the west African state to open peace talks aimed at ending
their 20-year-old insurgency, mediators announced.
   The appeal was made in a statement signed by Father Augustin Diamacoune
Senghor and Sidy Badji, the two rival leaders of the Movement of Democratic
Forces in Casamance (MFDC), who appear ready to put aside their differences,
an official of a Dakar-based human rights group, RADDHO, said.
   "We, Augustin Diamacoune Senghor and Sidy Badji, in the name of the  MFDC,
launch a solemn appeal to the Senegalese government to take all necessary
measures to begin just and sincere negotiations with the MFDC in neutral
territory to end the Casamance tragedy forever," the two men said in the
statement.
   The two pledged to work together "with one voice".
   The armed MFDC has been seeking independence for the troubled southern
province of Casamance since 1982 in a conflict that has left hundreds of dead
and forced thousands from their homes and prevented development of the fertile
region.
   The MFDC and the Dakar government have signed several agreements, none of
which have been respected.
   The MFDC split after its political leadership agreed on a ceasefire with
President Abdoulaye Wade's government in March 2001.
   In October last year, separatist leaders warned that the group was out of
cash and claimed that a resurgence in violence in Casamance was driven by
hunger among MFDC fighters.

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