Khartoum, the rebels extends ceasefire

The government's commission for development, IGAD, which mediates the Sudanese peace talks yesterday announced that the fighting sides in Sudan will extend the ceasefire after it expires by the end of June.

A spokeswoman for the regional commission in which take part are the countries of East Africa said "we will sign the extension of the memorandum of understanding concerning the war on June 30."

IGAD supervises the talks between the government of Khartoum and the rebels in order to end a civil war which lasted for two decades between the Sudanese government in the north and the southern rebels (SPLA) that resulted in killing 2 millions.

Khartoum stressed yesterday it will sign an extension for the truce for another three months. The rebels said that they are still studying the proposal but in principle they agrees toi it.

The two sides signed a provisional agreement for the first time in October 2002, and it was renewed for several times.

The two sides say they are committed to ending the war. The talks witnessed a promising start in 2002 before differences arise on sharing the wealth and the authority in post - war Sudan. N.