Seventy-two Sudanese prisoners of war released by the Ugandan authorities have arrived back in Sudan under the escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

They were welcomed by Sudan's Defence Minister, General Abdar-Rahman Sir al-Khatim, who said their return showed that relations between the two countries were moving in the right direction.

Meanwhile a Ugandan government delegation led by the Regional Co-operation Minister Amama Mbabazi, met Sudanese officials and gave President Bashir a message from President Museveni about proposals for implementing last month's peace accord, which is behind schedule. A BBC correspondent in Khartoum says that early agreement on the resumption of diplomatic ties, exchange of ambassadors and restoration of air links is likely, but other parts of the accord such as the return of schoolgirls abducted by the Sudan-based Ugandan rebels, the Lord's Resistance Army and the disbanding of the group are likely to prove more problematic.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service