Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir held a meeting with South Sudan government negotiators in Khartoum today, the official news agency reported.

The state-owned news agency SUNA said President Omar al Bashir received a message from South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir through his negotiating team in Khartoum.

In his press statement, Kiir’s adviser on security affairs Tut Gatluak said they had delivered a message from President Kiir in which he thanked his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir for bringing together the South Sudan parties to sign a peace agreement to end the conflict.

Gatluak further said the government delegation in Khartoum will sign a final peace agreement on 5 August.

South Sudan's government and the main opposition group led by former vice president Riek Machar initialled a power-sharing deal in Khartoum last Wednesday.

SPLM Former Detainees and South Sudan Opposition Alliance except Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak’s group refrained from initialling the agreement.