Sudan declares Darfur ceasefireAn ICC prosecutor has sought a warrant for Mr Bashir's arrestSudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has announced an immediate ceasefire in the Darfur region of western Sudan.He said his government would start disarming militias and restrict the use of weapons among armed groups.
Darfuri rebel groups did not take part in talks, and analysts have questioned the president's motivation.
Previous ceasefires have failed, while Mr Bashir has faced intense pressure after an international court prosecutor sought a warrant for his arrest.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor sought to indict him in July on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw, in Khartoum, says the government hopes this plan will be enough to convince the international community to defer the case against Mr Bashir.
But similar declarations in the past have come and gone without making any difference on the ground in Darfur, she adds.
Up to 300,000 people have died and more than two million have fled their homes in Darfur since 2003.
Rebel groups began the conflict in 2003, but since then militia groups seen as having links to Mr Bashir's government have been held responsible for waves of violence against civilians.
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