President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has offered a temporary ceasefire to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

He says the Ugandan army would institute a "time-limited" ceasefire if the rebels stop attacks and kidnapping and confine themselves to camps in Sudan, according to the government-owned New Vision newspaper.

I am ready and getting readier every year to prosecute the war against your type

President Yoweri Museveni

The LRA has been fighting Mr Museveni's government for 16 years and has recently intensified attacks in northern Uganda.

Earlier this year, the Ugandan army was granted permission to enter southern Sudan to wipe out the rebel bases but this only drove the LRA deeper into Ugandan territory.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has refused to withdraw from northern Uganda, despite a deadline from the LRA for aid agencies to leave this week, according to the Associated Press news agency.

"The World Food Program will not suspend its distribution of aid in the region. The need is too great," said spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume.

An LRA attack on a refugee camp a week ago left at least 55 people dead.

Four aid-workers kidnapped in the attack were released over the weekend.

'True Ugandans'

Mr Museveni's letter to LRA leader Joseph Kony was written on 20 July, after the president read a report by religious leaders on the peace moves initiated by the Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative.

Acholi religious leaders met a group of LRA commanders in northern Uganda's Pader district on 17 July.

A rare picture from New Vision of LRA leader Joseph Kony

Several MPs from northern Uganda have urged Mr Museveni to talk to the rebels in order to end the fighting.

The New Vision also prints the report of the religious leaders on their meeting with the LRA.

The rebels say they are fighting "for peace and for recognition of the people of the north as true Ugandans" and would talk to the government if there was a ceasefire, according to the religious leaders.

Aids

But Mr Museveni said he was ready for war, if the rebels did not want peace.

In his letter, the Ugandan leader detailed the crimes he said had been committed by the LRA.

"You have kidnapped children and forced them to be soldiers. Many have been killed in the process.

"You cut the lips and ears of Ugandans in the early 1990s. Such acts are treated as 'acts against humanity'.

Children have been major targets for kidnapping

"Your forced girls into marriage with yourselves and many of these, who are rescued, are found with Aids," the president said in his letter.

He warned: "I am ready and getting readier every successive year to prosecute the war against your type until, you are brought to justice, especially the ringleaders: Kony and Otti."

But he said he was ready for peace talks with the LRA because of the "prolonged sufferings" of the people of northern Uganda.

Ceasefire and food

Offering a ceasefire to the LRA, President Museveni said that the rebels would have to confine themselves to three areas of Sudan - Owiny Kibul, Panyikwara and Aswa Valley.

If they did this, he said he would arrange with the World Food Programme for food, medicine and clothes to be sent to the areas.

The Ugandan army is hunting the rebels in the north

The rebels were also offered the chance by the president to report to Gulu and Kitgum in northern Uganda, to hand their weapons to the government and be looked after "as we talk about your wishes".

In their report of the meetings with the rebels, the religious leaders reported the LRA's wish for a ceasefire ahead of talks with the government but on certain conditions.

These included the use of neutral emissaries rather than "government agents" to talk to the LRA, respect for the rebels and no ultimatums to surrender.