Sudanese government says it is ready to reconcile with rebels

The Sudanese government said it is ready to sign a cease-fire agreement with rebel forces in southern Sudan to end fighting that has continued since 1983.

In a statement, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said the Sudanese government is ready to announce the cease-fire and to ensure a proper atmosphere of peace in Sudan during negotiations to be held between the two sides in Nairobi next April.

Ismael called on the international community to exert pressure on rebel factions to agree to the cease-fire, which will guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid to citizens who bear the results of the fighting in southern Sudan, noting that rebel troops obstruct the arrival of this aid through military escalation.