Sudan at turning point after rebel attack

By Opheera McDoom

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - An unprecedented Darfur rebel attack on Khartoum is a turning point that could persuade Sudan's rulers to negotiate seriously with their foes or push Africa's biggest country towards disintegration.

Sudan-watchers believe the key is international involvement and say much more pressure is needed on both rebels and the government to end the vicious war in Darfur and prevent it threatening the very survival of the state.

"The government of Khartoum may be under more pressure now to take negotiations seriously ... but that will depend on the pressure on the government from the international community," said Jan Pronk, former U.N. envoy to Sudan.

"The international community dropped the ball," he said, suggesting more effort to get the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels to join Darfur peace talks could have prevented the attack.

For the first time in decades of conflict between Arab-dominated Khartoum and rebels from Sudan's distant corners, the fight has come to the government's back yard.

Residents of Khartoum got a small taste of daily life in Sudan's regional conflict zones, hiding in their homes dodging heavy mortar and rifle fire. The rebels were pushed back late on Saturday but have vowed to attack again.

Observers say it is still early to tell whether the attack will prompt hardliners in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to try for an all-out military solution, paid for with surging oil revenues.

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