A major rebel group in Sudan's Darfur region has signed a framework ceasefire agreement with the Sudanese government.Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir quashed death sentences against 100 Justice and Equality Movement rebels after the deal, reports said.
The seven-year war between forces loyal to Sudan's government and rebels in Darfur effectively ended in 2009.
But the UN estimates 300,000 died in the worst years of the conflict. Some 2.5 million people are still displaced.
"Today we signed an agreement between the government and JEM in N'Djamena [in Chad] and in N'Djamena we heal the war in Darfur," President Bashir said in a speech on Sudanese state television, according to Reuters.
A Jem spokesman was quoted by AFP as saying: "We have just initially signed the framework agreement. We will discuss of many issues - return of the IDPs, power and wealth sharing, compensation, detainees," he said.
When conflict broke out in Darfur early in 2003, there were just two major rebel groups - Jem and the Sudan Liberation Army.
After that, the insurgents splintered into an array of competing factions.
Jem has been the most significant fighting force in Darfur, armed with weapons that Sudan says come from neighbouring Chad.
