The Sudanese President, Omar el-Bashir, has paid a surprise visit to Eritrea - his first for five years.

In a statement released in Khartoum,President el-Bashir, said he was in Eritrea to end the frosty relations between the two countries.

Reports from Eritrea say the visit stunned many Eritreans, who clapped and cheered as he left his motorcade, accompanied by the Eritrean President Afeworki, and walked down Asmara's main street.

Relations between the two countries, which had been strained, have steadily improved since President el-Bashir's very public power tussle with Sudanese Islamist leader, Hassan al-Turabi. The two countries are negotiating arrangements to open borders and fully restore diplomatic ties. The BBC correspondent in Asmara say its still not clear what impact the improving ties will have on Sudanese opposition groups, who are based in Asmara.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service