The deadline for the Darfur’s remaining rebel groups to sign up to the proposed peace agreement has passed. Initial reports from international agencies state that the two outstanding rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement and a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, have rejected the deal.

Mediators from the African Union have been urging the rebel groups to follow others that had already signed the deal three weeks ago, but the deadline at 2100 GMT passed on Wednesday with no success.

The two groups have refused to sign the agreement, and have demanded that alternations are made.