Sudan foes extend truce

The government of Sudan and the main rebel group, which controls much of the south of the country, have agreed to extend their ceasefire by two months.

The sides have been talking for two weeks

The ceasefire had been due to expire at the end of September and is seen as a key element in the peace process aimed at ending a 20-year war which has killed some two million people.

The extension was announced by Kenya's foreign minister Kalonzo Musyoka, who is hosting talks between the Sudanese Government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

"One of the things we have agreed as a first measure will be an extension of the cessation of hostilities agreement," he said.

"We expect to reach a peace settlement in two months," SPLA leader John Garang told AFP news agency soon after Mr Musyoka announced the truce.

Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Taha and Mr Garang have been locked in peace talks in the Kenyan of town of Naivasha, 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Nairobi, since 4 September.

They are trying to agree on how government troops and rebel forces will be deployed once a final accord is signed.

'Change of tone'

The BBC's Caroline Karobia in Naivasha says both sides have agreed that 36,000 troops should be deployed initially.

The government and the SPLA would contribute 18,000 troops each.

The SPLA wants the joint force reduced to 6,000 after the first two years of the interim period - but the government opposes this.

Under an agreement signed in Kenya last year, the south will enjoy autonomy from Khartoum during a six-year interim period.

Following this a referendum will be held to determine whether the south will secede or remain part of Sudan.

The fact that the two sides have been talking for two weeks is being taken as an optimistic sign, our correspondent says.

The government-run Sudanese media has also changed its tone towards Mr Garang and the SPLA.

Newspapers now refer to the SPLA leader as "Mr John Garang, the leader of the SPLA", whereas in the past they described him as "rebel leader John Garang".

Observers say the shift seems to be part of the government's preparation for Mr Garang assuming a position in an interim administration to be created under a final settlement.