Sudan's Bashir announces immediate Darfur ceasefire

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced on Wednesday an "immediate" and "unconditional" ceasefire in the Darfur region in western Sudan.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and the warring factions, provided that an effective monitoring mechanism be put into action and observed by all involved parties," Bashir said. (Reuters)