This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8534634.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sudan 'releasing Darfur rebels' | Sudan 'releasing Darfur rebels' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sudan has begun to free 57 prisoners from a key Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), officials and witnesses say. | |
| Sudan's justice minister said the papers were "being processed", according to Reuters news agency. | Sudan's justice minister said the papers were "being processed", according to Reuters news agency. |
| The releases are part of the ceasefire deal signed on Tuesday by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Jem. | The releases are part of the ceasefire deal signed on Tuesday by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Jem. |
| The deal raises hopes of an end to years of conflict in Darfur, however some rebel factions have not signed up. | The deal raises hopes of an end to years of conflict in Darfur, however some rebel factions have not signed up. |
| Jem's leader, Khalil Ibrahim, hailed the deal as "a very important step". | Jem's leader, Khalil Ibrahim, hailed the deal as "a very important step". |
| The rebels were detained after a surprise Jem raid on Omdurman, a city just across the River Nile from Khartoum, in 2008. | The rebels were detained after a surprise Jem raid on Omdurman, a city just across the River Nile from Khartoum, in 2008. |
| More than 100 rebels were arrested. Most were sentenced to death and several have already been executed. | More than 100 rebels were arrested. Most were sentenced to death and several have already been executed. |
| The first group were set free just minutes after Justice Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat spoke, Reuters reports. | The first group were set free just minutes after Justice Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat spoke, Reuters reports. |
| He said the rest would be freed as negotiations continued. | He said the rest would be freed as negotiations continued. |
| Under the deal, Jem rebels will be given a share of power "at all levels" in Sudan. | Under the deal, Jem rebels will be given a share of power "at all levels" in Sudan. |
| Some 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million forced from their homes since rebels took up in arms in Darfur in 2003, according to UN estimates. | Some 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million forced from their homes since rebels took up in arms in Darfur in 2003, according to UN estimates. |