Uganda rebels threaten war without new talks venue

KAMPALA, Feb 6 (Reuters) Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army rebels vowed to resume an offensive against the government unless Kampala agrees to move faltering peace talks to a new venue outside south Sudan.

The rebels, who have been fighting for 20 years in a bloody insurgency known for targeting civilians, forced recruitment of child soldiers and widespread atrocities, said they would not return to talks in south Sudan's capital Juba after Sudan's president vowed recently to ''get rid of the LRA''.

''If they cannot find another venue, then I will go back to my country and start war,'' LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti told Reuters by phone from his bush hideout on the Sudan-Congo border. ''We are ready to invade Uganda.'' Otti declined to say when this would happen.

When asked whether the rebels would attack Ugandan army positions, he said: ''Yes, we will.'' ''(President Yoweri) Museveni is refusing this (relocation of the talks) purposefully so what else is left but to go back to war?'' he added.

The rebels, among Africa's most feared insurgents, have been engaged in south Sudanese-mediated peace talks since July.

In August, they signed a truce, which raised hopes of an end to the brutal two-decade insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 1.7 million in north Uganda.

LRA fighters had until the end of January to gather in two camps in south Sudan as part of the truce, but the rebels say they are worried for their security.

The Ugandan army said it was ready for an LRA offensive.

''If they come back, we are in our positions and we are ready to deal with them,'' said Chris Magezi, army spokesman for northern Uganda. ''We shall hit them. When peace talks started, they were a spent force. Otti knows that (war) is not the best option for him. Their best option is peace talks.'' The stop-start talks are seen as the best chance for peace, but both sides have accused each other of violations.

The LRA, who have also accused south Sudanese officials of embezzling money given to fund the talks, have suggested Kenya and South Africa as alternative venues.

But Nairobi this week ruled out hosting the talks.

Aid agencies have warned of a new humanitarian crisis, reversing months of progress, if better efforts are not made to bring the LRA back to the negotiating table.

Many Ugandans fear the LRA, notorious for killing civilians and hacking body parts off victims, will never make peace unless the International Criminal Court revokes indictments for war crimes against several of their top leaders.

REUTERS SY RK1628