Sudan and Egypt open trade talks

Trade talks between Egypt and Sudan and due to open in Cairo later today Thursday amid growing signs of improving relations.

The talks between the Egyptian trade minister, Ahmad al-Juwayli, and his Sudanese counterpart, Uthman al-Hadi Ibrahim, are aimed at reviving economic ties and investments.

The discussions follow this week's visit to Egypt by the Sudanese foreign minister Mustapha Osman Ismail, who said Khartoum was committed to improving relations between the two countries.

They sank to a low point in 1995 after Cairo accused Khartoum of involvement in an attempt to assassinate the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service