Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Sunday pledged serious cooperation with the former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in carrying out the peace agreement ending a 21-year civil war in southern Sudan.

NCP Secretary General Ibrahim Ahmed Omar made the promise after talks with SPLM Secretary General James Wani who heads a 100-member SPLM delegation which arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Sunday morning for the first time since the Sudanese government and the SPLM signed a peace deal in January to end the longest civil war in Africa.

"We will meet seriously our commitment to implementing the southern Sudan peace agreement on the ground," Omar said.

He said the government and the SPLM delegation were due to form a joint committee for drawing up the constitution of the transitional period which will last for six years following a preparatory period of six months.

"What concerns us is the realization of stability in Sudan and restoring its unity and development," he added.

Wani said that his visit aimed to begin implementing the peace deal to form a power-sharing government.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2005)