Ministers from Ethiopia,Egypt and Sudan have agreed on a strategy for co- operation over the exploitation of the water resources of the River Nile.
The move came after the ministers met in Khartoum.
They approved an accord for the equitable use of the waters in irrigation and electric power projects and backed the principles of integrated sustainable development.
Correspondents say feasibility studies are planned for joint projects and a further ministerial meeting is planned to take place in Cairo in January.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
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