Kampala — Acholi religious leaders have commended the Government and the UNRF II rebels for the peace agreement they signed in Yumbe district last week.

The religious leaders also appealed to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels to emulate the UNRF II peace move to end the northern rebellion.

In a press statement sent to The New Vision in Gulu on December 27, they said, "It is our positive and concrete steps that will make it possible to have a cease-fire and meaningful negotiations to end the violence in Acholi.

"This event sends a very hopeful signal to our people that peaceful negotiation is the best way to end a conflict. We congratulate the Government and the UNRF II together with the Amnesty Commission for this positive gesture which is a great achievement."

The statement signed by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, chairman of Acholi Religious Leaders, also said, "At the same time, we wish to inform everyone that we are organising a peace walk and prayer on the 31st December. We shall walk from Pece stadium in Gulu at 10.00 a.m. and go to Kaunda Grounds, where we shall have the prayers and read a peace message." Other peace prayers will also take place in Kitgum and Pader.

The statement said all people of goodwill were invited.