Rebel leaders say they have reached an agreement with the Ugandan government to deal with war crimes stemming from the nation's two decades of conflict.
Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) negotiator Martin Ojul told reporters Saturday that the two sides agreed to address war crimes and accused criminals under Uganda's own law, using traditional tribal reconciliation rituals rather the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Government negotiators were not available to confirm the agreement. The two sides have been holding peace talks in southern Sudan on and off since last July.
LRA rebels had asked for a 12-month suspension of arrest warrants against their five of their top leaders that had been issued by the ICC.
Rebels are accused of killing and mutilating thousands of civilians during the conflict. The LRA had demanded those charges be dropped before it would sign a peace deal.
The 11-month-old peace talks have achieved some progress, including a ceasefire that the sides extended in April.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
