Khartoum, southern rebels eliminate last pending issue

It was announced in Kenya that the Sudanese government and the southern rebels agreed on the last main pending issues before finalizing a comprehensive peace agreement between the two sides.

One mediator told journalists in Kenyan city of Nivasha that the two sides agreed to a formula to maintain a permanent ceasefire and arrangements to implement a final peace agreement.

However, Sudanese sources said that two main obstacles are still to be settled by the two sides before finalizing this agreement: financing the southern rebels and the status of the southern militias especially those that stand in support of the Sudanese government.

The Sudanese papers issued on Thursday said that negotiations between the two sides entered a final and decisive phase and expected the heads of the two delegations Ali Othman Taha, the Sudanese Vice President, and the leader of the movement John Garang to reach a peace agreement today.

These developments coincided with a call addressed by the US President George W. Bush to the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to accelerate the convening of such an agreement.

In a message on the occasion of Sudan's 49th independence anniversary, Bush expressed his hope that the Sudanese President will take a final and definite step to finalize the agreement. He stressed that the US and the international community will give their support to any side working for peace in Sudan.

The American president also expressed his hope that the signing of this agreement will constitute a strong impetus to achieve peace in Sudan and thereby strengthening Sudanese - American relations.