The Sudanese Government has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur with immediate effect.
The announcement comes as talks, aimed at ending the four year war in the region, opened in Sirte in Libya.
The talks aimed at ending the four-year war in Sudan's Darfur region opened without key rebel groups attending.
Despite a threat of UN Security Council sanctions, two of Darfur's main rebel groups have decided to boycott the talks in a row over who has been invited.
One rebel leader voiced doubts about Khartoum's move, saying it had failed to honour such undertakings in the past.
The latest talks are being hosted by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Some 200,000 people have died and about 2 million have been displaced in the conflict in Sudan.
