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ADDIS ABABA, July 24 (AFP) - The newly-created African Union on Wednesday hailed a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and rebels from the south of the country as a "breakthrough," and said it hoped the parties would push ahead to a comprehensive settlement.

A statement from Amara Essy, the African Union's interim committee leader, said the AU urged the Khartoum government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), who signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday, "to work vigorously for the resolution of the remaining issues so that a comprehensive settlement can be achieved (...), in the shortest possible time."

"The AU remains committed to contribute to the search for peace in the Sudan and will continue to provide its full support to the ongoing efforts," the statement said.

The SPLA and the Sudanese government have been at war for 19 years. The memorandum of understanding, signed in the Kenyan town of Machakos, gives southern Sudan a six-year period during which it will enjoy administrative autonomy and not be subject to the Islamic law applied in the north.

At the end of the six years, its people will be asked to vote on whether they want to stay part of the country, or secede.

Northern Sudan, where the capital is located, is predominantly Muslim, whereas the south is mainly Christian and animist.

Talks on the details of the cease-fire and on exactly how power and economic resources will be shared out are due to take place in Kenya in mid-August.

The African Union replaced the Organization of African Unity as the continent's biggest multinational body at a summit held in South Africa earlier this month. Like the OAU, it has its headquarters in Addis Ababa. - Nampa-AFP

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