Five people were killed and seven wounded, including a minister in the south Sudan regional government, when a gunbattle erupted between rival ethnic groups, officials said on Monday.

Sudanese parties on Monday condemned abuses in voter registrations for the first multi-party elections in 24 years set for April, calling for the enrolment period to be extended.

US envoy Scott Gration will return to Khartoum and Darfur this week as part of US diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region, the State Department said Monday.

Thousands of Algerian and Egyptian fans flocked into Khartoum on Tuesday for a make-or-break World Cup qualification play-off, with Sudanese police out in force to segregate the rival supporters.

Thousands of Algerian and Egyptian fans flocked into Khartoum on Tuesday for a make-or-break World Cup qualification play-off, with Sudanese police out in force to segregate the rival supporters.

JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - Twelve people were killed and a government minister wounded in clashes in south Sudan, which is preparing for a referendum on whether to split off as an independent state.

The UN Security Council has "strongly condemned" the ongoing attacks and acts of violence of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Qatar hosted what it billed as the ceremonial launch of Darfur peace talks on Wednesday but neither Sudanese government nor rebel representatives took part.

Qatari-hosted talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels due to begin on Monday in Doha have again been postponed, a mediator said on Sunday, amid a lingering split in rebel ranks.

There is a "real chance" that the 2011 referendum on the future of South Sudan will lead to a vote for the region to break away from Africa's largest nation, the regional president said on Sunday.

Report: Sudanese refugee women and girls face rape, violence daily in eastern Chad. Women and girls who fled the fighting in Darfur face rape and other violence daily in eastern Chad, even inside the very refugee camps where they have sought sanctuary, according to a report released Wednesday.

Around 20 Sudanese political parties threatened on Wednesday to boycott next year's elections, the first in more than two decades, unless President Omar al-Beshir implements reforms.

Around 20 Sudanese political parties threatened on Wednesday to boycott next year's elections, the first in more than two decades, unless President Omar al-Beshir implements reforms.

Around 20 Sudanese political parties threatened on Wednesday to boycott next year's elections, the first in more than two decades, unless President Omar al-Beshir implements reforms.

President Omar al-Beshir on Thursday said he supported a "democratic transformation" in Sudan and promised that general elections scheduled for next year would be free and fair.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's ruling party nominated President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for re-election on Saturday despite an International Criminal Court warrant to arrest him for war crimes.

Sixteen people were killed and several wounded in clashes in south Sudan between forces loyal to an ex-warlord and an oil-rich state governor's guards, military sources said on Saturday.

Sixteen people were killed and several wounded in clashes in south Sudan between forces loyal to an ex-warlord and an oil-rich state governor's guards, military sources said on Saturday.

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Monday invited the country's opposition for talks aimed at avoiding clashes in next year's general election, a week after they threatened to boycott it.

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Monday invited the country's opposition for talks aimed at avoiding clashes in next year's general election, a week after they threatened to boycott it.