Talks aimed at ending the conflict in South Sudan face further delay, after the government rejected rebel calls for an immediate release of political prisoners. The rebels are worried about the safety of the detained politicians. They claim family members have been denied access.

"The report that we got, that they were not treated well. We are concerned for their safety, we have written to IGAD about this. Today we are waiting for the coming back of the envoy from Juba. Their relatives were denied of the right to visit them, the wife of Pagan Amun wanted to visit her husband, she was denied of that right. The wife of General Majack Agout also had wanted to visit her husband and she was denied that right. We are concerned why their relatives are not allowed to visit them." said General Tabang Deng Gai, Lead Negotiator for S. Sudanese Rebels.

Three weeks of fighting has pitted President Salva Kiir’s SPLA government forces against the rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar. Both sides met face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. But they quickly took a break while African mediators headed to South Sudan’s capital Juba to push for the release of the 11 politicians arrested over an alleged coup plot last year.

Kiir’s government has rejected the request, saying the detainees will not be freed until they have stood trial for their crimes. The rebels had initially demanded the release of the detainees before the talks. But they have since agreed to negotiate a ceasefire and the status of the prisoners. The acting head of the government delegation says the Intergovernmental Authority for Development has presented ceasefire proposals to end the conflict. Both sides were due to discuss their positions on Wednesday. But the talks did not take place, because the delegates were awaiting the arrival of the IGAD envoys.

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