Uganda govt and LRA rebels sign new truce deal

JUBA, Sudan, Nov 1 (Reuters) Uganda's government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels signed a new truce today intended to spur talks to end one of Africa's longest and most brutal conflicts.

Both sides were accused of violating an earlier ceasefire agreed in August -- the first in two decades of fighting that have killed tens of thousands of civilians and uprooted nearly 2 million more in northern Uganda alone.

''We hope today's agreement creates a much better atmosphere,'' said the chief mediator at stop-start peace talks that began in July, south Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar.

Under the previous deal, the rebels were to gather at two assembly points in southern Sudan while negotiations to end the war continued in its capital Juba.

But monitors said both sides later broke the agreement: the rebels by failing to gather, and Ugandan forces by encroaching on the eastern assembly point at Owiny-Ki-Bul.

Under today's deal, the rebels have another month to assemble there and at Ri-Kwangba, near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -- this time within ''safe zones'' intended to assure them of their security.

''The forces of the parties shall remain as far apart as 15 km of the specified perimeters,'' the new truce agreement says.

It also banned any other groups, including journalists and diplomats, from visiting the assembly areas without the express permission of Machar himself.

Ugandan negotiators and LRA representatives in Juba were jubilant after today's signing. The talks have so far been hindered by profound mistrust on both sides.

The head of the Ugandan team, Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, hugged each of the LRA delegates in turn.

''This will help build confidence and further consolidates the peace process,'' he said.

The head of the LRA negotiators, Martin Ojul, agreed: ''We are very happy with this agreement because it has removed some of the impediments that were disturbing us.'' The rebels became notorious during their insurgency for massacring civilians, mutilating survivors and abducting thousands of children as fighters, porters and sex slaves.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for five LRA commanders. The guerrillas say they will not sign any final peace deal unless the indictments are scrapped.

REUTERS SP VV1802