The current round of ceasefire talks between the Government of Sudan and a Darfur rebel group have been suspended, a United Nations spokesperson told reporters in New York today.

Michele Montas said that ongoing negotiations with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), held in the Qatari capital of Doha, are expected to start up again at the end of July.

The sticking point involves the timing of the release of prisoners, with the JEM calling for their freedom before an agreement on the cessation of hostilities is reached, according to Ms. Montas.

She added that during this period, consultations with other major stakeholders in the peace process, which began on 27 May, will continue.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting various rebels groups against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.