The southern Sudanese rebel leader, John Garang, has asked South Africa to help end the civil war in Sudan which has claimed nearly two million lives over 17 years.

Mr Garang told South African radio that he had met President Thabo Mbeki to discuss the idea of South Africa mediating between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Khartoum Government.

A group of East African nations has been conducting peace talks since 1994 and has made little headway.

Direct talks between the government and the SPLA are planned for February, and Sudan's Government has reportedly agreed to take part in preparatory meetings in Nairobi on Saturday.

The war pits the Islamist and Arab north against the mainly Christian and animist south led by the SPLA, which has support from some northern opposition groups.

POW releases welcomed

Meanwhile, a Ugandan Government delegation is in Sudan to assess progress after last month's peace accord.

It is led by the Regional Co-operation Minister, Amama Mbabazi.

The accord is aimed at restoring full diplomatic relations but has been running well behind schedule.

It has however led to Uganda releasing more than 70 Sudanese prisoners of war this week - a move welcomed by Khartoum.

Sudanese State Foreign Minister Bishop Gabriel Rorec said the Ugandan decision was a "positive step" that would move forward the normalisation of relations between the two African neighbours.

The POWs are expected home on Thursday.

Diplomatic ties were broken five years ago, both countries accusing each other of backing rebel movements.