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Sudanese peace deal back on track Sudanese peace deal back on track
(about 2 hours later)
Sudan's former southern rebels have said they will rejoin a national coalition government in an apparent end to the political crisis. Sudan's southern former rebels have said they will rejoin a national unity government in an apparent end to the two-month political crisis.
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) withdrew from the government in October, jeopardising a peace deal.The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) withdrew from the government in October, jeopardising a peace deal.
But the SPLM agreed to end its boycott after its leader Salva Kiir met Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.But the SPLM agreed to end its boycott after its leader Salva Kiir met Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.
They agreed funding for a census and a timetable to pull out troops either side of Sudan's north-south border.They agreed funding for a census and a timetable to pull out troops either side of Sudan's north-south border.
They have also announced that the government will move to the southern capital, Juba, every three months.
Officials said this would be an important symbolic gesture to help develop key ties between the power-sharing partners.
But there was no deal on the demarcation of the disputed oil-rich Abyei region after the two-hour meeting between the leaders.But there was no deal on the demarcation of the disputed oil-rich Abyei region after the two-hour meeting between the leaders.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says many people were afraid Sudan would slide back into civil conflict, if the two sides did not resolve their differences.The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says many people were afraid Sudan would slide back into civil conflict, if the two sides did not resolve their differences.
The SPLM withdrew its ministers from the unity government two months ago, accusing President Bashir's National Congress Party of failing to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended the 21-year civil war.
'Hopeful''Hopeful'
The SPLM withdrew its ministers from the government, accusing President Bashir's National Congress Party of failing to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended the 21-year civil war.
SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum said most issues had been resolved.SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum said most issues had been resolved.
SPLM DEMANDS Northern troops in south - resolvedSharing oil wealth - resolvedCensus ahead of 2011 referendum - resolvedStatus of Abyei - outstandingSPLM DEMANDS Northern troops in south - resolvedSharing oil wealth - resolvedCensus ahead of 2011 referendum - resolvedStatus of Abyei - outstanding
"We have achieved a lot... We have resolved all the outstanding issues that caused the crisis, with the exception of Abyei," he said after Tuesday's late night meeting between Mr Kiir and Mr al-Bashir."We have achieved a lot... We have resolved all the outstanding issues that caused the crisis, with the exception of Abyei," he said after Tuesday's late night meeting between Mr Kiir and Mr al-Bashir.
"The chairman of the SPLM will be issuing directives to the SPLM ministers to return to government," he added."The chairman of the SPLM will be issuing directives to the SPLM ministers to return to government," he added.
A timetable will now be worked out for the redeployment of northern troops from the south, especially from Unity and Upper Nile states.A timetable will now be worked out for the redeployment of northern troops from the south, especially from Unity and Upper Nile states.
There will be more transparency on issues of oil management and marketing plus funding to pave the way for a census in 2011, when the south could decide to split from the north, has also been assured.There will be more transparency on issues of oil management and marketing plus funding to pave the way for a census in 2011, when the south could decide to split from the north, has also been assured.
However, the final border demarcation was not resolved - which means the division of oil wealth cannot be completed.However, the final border demarcation was not resolved - which means the division of oil wealth cannot be completed.
It is the status of the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei - that currently lies in the north - that is the problem.It is the status of the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei - that currently lies in the north - that is the problem.
However, Mr Amum he did not see this as a major stumbling block. Mr Amum he did not see this as a major stumbling block.
"The issue of Abyei is being discussed by the presidency - we're hopeful that by Saturday there may be able to reach a solution.""The issue of Abyei is being discussed by the presidency - we're hopeful that by Saturday there may be able to reach a solution."
The unity government will also set up a development commission to speed up road links between the more developed north and the south, which has little infrastructure after the long war.
Under the peace deal, the SPLM leader is also national vice-president.Under the peace deal, the SPLM leader is also national vice-president.
Some 1.5 million people died in Sudan's conflict - Africa's longest civil war - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Animist and Christian south before the CPA was agreed. Some 1.5 million people died in Sudan's conflict - Africa's longest civil war - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Animist and Christian south.
There are currently 10,000 UN peacekeepers in South Sudan.There are currently 10,000 UN peacekeepers in South Sudan.