Opposition groups welcome move towards Sudan peace deal

Opposition groups in Sudan have cautiously welcomed a deal to try resolve Africa's longest-running civil war.

However, some concerns have been raised the Islamic government is offering southern rebels too much under the accord.

The agreement was signed on Saturday in Kenya between the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army.

It resolved the major causes of the 19-year-long war and established a framework for talks next month to draft a final peace deal.

A leading official from opposition leader Hassan Turabi's Popular National Congress Party offered cautious praise for the deal.

Mohammed Hassan al-Amin said the party "welcomed in principle Saturday's signing ... (but) issues and established facts such as Islamic law, federal rule and unity should not be compromised.

"International sponsorship of the agreement" might also pressure the government into making a compromise, said al-Amin.

Sudan's main opposition party voiced support for the breakthrough agreement.

"The Umma Party welcomes the agreement and all that leads to peace," said the party's deputy chief Omar Nur el-Dayem.