We noted the preliminary agreement between the Sudanese government and Darfuri rebels concluded yesterday in Doha, Qatar.

A day after the preliminary agreement - which was, by its plain terms, merely an agreement to continue discussing whether to come to an agreement - hostilities have re-ignited. Agence-France reports that the Sudanese government has bombed positions held by several rebel groups - including the Justice and Equality Movement, their partners in the pre-peace agreement.

Meanwhile, UN officials were being shown recent mass graves. All in all, not a propitious start for the agreement to further discuss the possibility of an agreement.