Rebels fighting in Sudan's Darfur region yesterday refused to accept an African Union (AU) peace plan already agreed to by the Sudanese government, as another deadline set by mediators expired.

The government has already accepted an 85-page draft agreement, but three rebel factions from Darfur said the agreement did not offer them enough power and guarantees on security. Mediators and diplomats warned that if no agreement could be forged, there would be severe repercussions for Sudan and neighbouring Chad, which back rebel movements in each other's countries.