AU gives Darfur parties 48 hours to strike deal

ABUJA, May 1 (Reuters) African Union mediators agreed today to give warring parties in Sudan's Darfur region an extra 48 hours to agree an AU-proposed peace deal after a midnight deadline expired.

It followed a request from the United States, which said the extra time would allow for agreement on two critical security issues -- THE disarmament of Janjaweed militia accused of rape, murder and looting, and the integration of rebel forces into the army.

REUTERS DKS RK0510