Taha (L) and Garang hold up a document, while Kibaki (C), looks on after they signed the declaration

NAIROBI, June 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha and rebel leader John Garang signed on Saturday, June 5, a declaration, which officially launches a final round of talks aimed at ending 21 years of civil war.

The declaration commits the Khartoum government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to "finalize negotiations and resolve details in as short a time as possible," said the text, a copy of which obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

It encapsulates deals struck over the course of two years of talks on issues such as power- and wealth-sharing and a six-year interim period of autonomy for south Sudan.

The final round of talks covers a comprehensive ceasefire and technical aspects of its implementation. Actual negotiations are due to resume on June 22.

Taha and Garang signed the declaration in the office of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

Historic

Some northern Sudanese mingled with their southern counterparts to dance and sing freedom songs, a rare sight in the vast country with deep religious and cultural differences, according to AFP.

"The documents we have just signed with Vice President Ali Osman Taha represent a solemn declaration on our part that war in Sudan is truly coming to an end," Garang said at the ceremony, marked by ululations and cheers.

"This is a historic moment for the people of Sudan," Taha reciprocated.

"We declare that we have entered a new era," he added.

Kibaki said he is confident that "the painstaking and selfless efforts that two Sudanese patriots have put into the peace process will not be in vain.

"I appeal to -- Taha and Garang -- to maintain the current momentum towards lasting peace in Sudan.

"We cannot afford to relax now. Sustained hard work and determination are required to meet the challenges that lie ahead," he stressed.

U.N. Secretary General Koffi Annan thanked the two leaders for showing "statemanship in bringing the peace process to its current point.

"The United Nations stands ready to contribute directly to this final phase of talks which will also define the scope of the UN on involvement during implementation of the peace agreement," Annan said in a message read by his envoy to Horn of Africa, Mohammed Sahnoun.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the pan-Arab organization feels "we are indeed reaching the end of a long and dark tunnel and about to enjoy the light that many of us have seen for a long time at the end of the tunnel."

The League has earmarked 200 million dollars for the reconstruction of south Sudan.

"The money has already been earmarked, not pledged anymore. Feasibility studies for projects are under way," Moussa had told a press conference in Nairobi.

"As for the future work in the field of reconstruction, it will have to be coordinated with other donors on one side and the government of Sudan that will be established in accordance with the new (final) agreement.

"We are ready, we will be very active in this, we will participate in all activities to reconstruct the south," he added.

On May 26, the two parties signed three crucial protocols on power-sharing and the administration of three disputed regions, capping two years of intense political negotiations in Kenya.

In essence, the texts give the people of southern Sudan, who mostly observe traditional religions and Christianity, an equitable role in their own governance and an end to domination and marginalization by the north.

The conflict between the two sides dates back to before independence from Britain in 1956 and was halted with a 1972 accord, which broke down in 1983.

But the deals - and the entire Kenya talks process -  have no bearing on the western region of  Darfur, where at least 10,000 people have been killed in a 15-month-old conflict pitting two rebel groups against government forces.