SUDANESE GOVERNMENT, REBELS AGREE ON PEACE CONFERENCE
| ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
The Sudanese government and a rebel group agreed conditionally to hold a constitutional conference in September to end their civil war. In a joint statement, the two sides set Sept. 18 for the start of the conference but said it would have to be preceded by full implementation of a pending peace agreement reached last November.
That pact caused a schism in the governing coalition and Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi was forced to shuffle his government earlier this year under pressure from the Army and professional groups. Although Mr. Mahdi has signaled acceptance of the plan, the parliament still has not formally endorsed it.
