Gulu, Uganda, Jan 1, SPA -- President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday said the army will resume all-out war on rebels in northernUganda, charging that the insurgents rejected a cease-firedeal that had been expected to open the way for politicaltalks on ending the 18-year civil war. The government, however, will continue negotiating withthe rebels in an effort to find a political solution to theconflict in which thousands have been killed and more thana million forced from their homes, Museveni said during NewYear's celebrations. The Lord's Resistance Army rebels have waged a campaign ofmurder, rape and abductions in northern Uganda. Led by theelusive Joseph Kony, they replenish their ranks byabducting children and forcing them to become fighters,porters or concubines. Ugandan military "operations will not cease ever againuntil the Kony group irreversibly commit themselves to comeout of the bush," Museveni said a day after a 47-day truceexpired. Museveni had declared the unilateral cease-fire in a partof northern Uganda to allow rebel commanders to gatherthere and discuss plans to open peace talks with thegovernment. On Friday, government and rebel negotiators failed toagree on the terms of a negotiated truce. "It is the rebels who refused to sign the cease-firememorandum of understanding and this is the reason why thegovernment has taken the decision to start fighting themwhile the peace option remains," Museveni said. "Thecombination of both the military option and dialogue willbring peace in northern Uganda."--SPA1300 Local Time 1000 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/229038