Uganda govt, LRA sign third stage of peace deal

KAMPALA, June 30 (Reuters) Uganda's government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have signed the third phase of a five-stage peace deal aiming to end two decades of conflict in the country's northern region, the rebel group said today.

''We signed the agreement on reconciliation and accountability late last night, which moves us one step closer to a final peace agreement,'' Martin Ojul, head of the LRA delegation at peace talks in south Sudan, told Reuters by telephone.

Talks between the two sides started last July, raising hopes of an end to a war that has killed tens of thousands and forced nearly two million refugees into camps that aid workers say are amongst most squalid and miserable in the world.

Progress had been slow since a truce signed in August, with the LRA frequently walking out of talks, but have since picked up pace.

Last month, the two sides signed the second stage of the deal, breaking months of deadlock.

REUTERS SBC PM1529