Chad and Sudan vow fresh push for peace

Chad and Sudan vowed on Sunday to end years of mutual mistrust and forge a "permanent peace" in the conflict-scarred region.

The neighbouring north African states pledged to "cooperate fully and honestly for the return of harmony and permanent peace in line with agreements that have been signed," a joint statement said.

Both sides were committed to hold off from "any action likely to damage relations between the two countries", said the statement, which followed talks in Ndjamena between a Sudanese delegation and Chadian ministers.

Further peace talks would take place in Khartoum in the near future, the statement added.

Relations between the two countries have been tense in recent years.

Chad has accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust the government, while Khartoum has charged Ndjamena with backing ethnic minority rebels in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Sudan complained to the UN Security Council in July about Chadian air raids on its territory. Ndjamena has admitted bombing anti-government rebel bases in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Chad has become a refuge for thousands fleeing Darfur, where a civil war has been raging since 2003. The conflict has killed up to 300,000 people and displaced millions more, according to the United Nations.