Sudan Power

Many of Sudan's power-brokers have signed a power-sharing agreement deal. The world watches in the hopes that it will lead to a peaceful Sudan.

The deal, signed in Cairo, brings the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) into a power-sharing administration set up with ex-southern rebels in January.

The NDA includes some of Sudan's oldest parties. They went into exile after the Islamist-backed 1989 coup that brought the current government to power.

The deal does not include the Darfur conflict - a big obstacle to peace.

January's peace agreement with the southern rebels ended more than 20 years of civil war.

There were cheers and applause as NDA chairman Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani signed the accord with Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha at a ceremony broadcast live by Egyptian television.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak attended the event, along with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir, the former southern rebel leader, John Garang, and the leadership of the opposition alliance.

"We are starting a new era where Sudan is free of struggle... Let us work hand in hand to offer the Sudanese the prosperity they have been lacking," said Mr Bashir.

"This latest agreement... will be the backbone of Sudanese unity," he said.