Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has signed a framework ceasefire deal with one of Darfur's main rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem).

苏丹总统巴希尔与达尔富尔主要反叛组织正义与平等运动首领签署一项框架式停火协议。

The Jem fighters are one of the country's key rebel groups

The power-sharing agreement in Qatar is seen as an important step towards peace, though the other main rebel group has refused to enter talks.

Jem said it would now be observing（观察，遵守） a ceasefire, from midnight local time (2100 GMT).

Its leader, Khalil Ibrahim, said the deal was "a very important step".

But, he added: "The road to peace still needs much patience and honest concessions¹（优惠，让步） from both sides."

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed（致敬，欢呼） the framework agreement as "an important step towards an inclusive（包括的，包含的） and comprehensive peace agreement for Darfur".

He added that he looked forward to "the full implementation²（履行，实现） of the agreement's provisions".

Power-sharing

The mood at the signing ceremony was quite jubilant（欢呼的，喜洋洋的） , with cheerful scenes of handshaking and back-slapping（拍打） , reports the BBC's Stephanie Hancock from Doha.

The deal was brokered³（以中间人身份安排） by neighbouring Chad. Sudan says Chad has backed and armed Jem.

According to the text of the accord, obtained by the BBC, the rebel group will constitute a political party after the signing of a final agreement.

As well as the immediate⁴ ceasefire, the agreement includes an outline deal on the sharing of power "at all levels", which means the rebels will be offered seats in the Khartoum government.

The text also specifies⁵ that changes in the administration of the Darfur region will form part of the final accord and that death sentences imposed on 100 Jem fighters will be cancelled.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) last year issued a warrant（正当理由，根据） for Mr Bashir's arrest for war crimes in Darfur.

But Qatar has not signed the ICC charter, which obliges（强制） member states to arrest indictees on their territory.

After the deal was signed, Qatar said a $1.5bn (£969m) fund would be established for the development of Darfur.