Qatar says it will donate $1 billion to Sudan fund

Qatar, which has sponsored peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels, plans to contribute $1 billion to a fund to reconstruct the African country, the Qatari emir said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, whose country is the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas, also said a ceasefire deal due to be signed later on Tuesday was a "steadfast step toward a peaceful solution." (Reuters)