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| Sudan 'releases Darfur rebels' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sudan has freed 57 prisoners from a key Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), officials say. | Sudan has freed 57 prisoners from a key Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), officials say. |
| President Omar al-Bashir announced the releases during a speech in Darfur's capital El Fasher, and declared: "The war is over," AFP news agency reported. | |
| The releases are part of the ceasefire deal signed on Tuesday by Mr Bashir and Jem leaders - formerly bitter enemies. | The releases are part of the ceasefire deal signed on Tuesday by Mr Bashir and Jem leaders - formerly bitter enemies. |
| 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 fighters were arrested and most were sentenced to death. Several have already been executed. | More than 100 fighters were arrested and most were sentenced to death. Several have already been executed. |
| Chanting crowds | |
| But Justice Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat told a news conference held at Kober prison in Khartoum that the government had now freed 50% of the Jem rebels it was holding. | But Justice Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat told a news conference held at Kober prison in Khartoum that the government had now freed 50% of the Jem rebels it was holding. |
| He added that the rest would be freed as negotiations continued. | He added that the rest would be freed as negotiations continued. |
| Reuters news agency reported that scores of people gathered outside prison, chanting slogans and thronging around the freed prisoners. | |
| The agency identified one of the first to come out as Adam Abdullah al-Nur, who cried as he was swamped by supporters. | |
| "My only concern is to give the people of Darfur their rights, to give any old woman or child their rights," he said. | |
| Under the peace 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. |