The Sudanese government and Darfur rebels made their first progress in peace talks in Nigerian capital late Wednesday, and will move on to the crucial security issue on Thursday.

On the eighth day into the African Union sponsored talks, the parties reached their first agreement in humanitarian aid in the troubled region of Darfur, where more than 10,000 were killed and over one million displaced since the start of conflict 18 months ago.

The leader of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement, Ahmed Mohammed Tugod said the parties "came to the agreement on protocolon humanitarian issues... We will continue tomorrow (Thursday) on security issues."

Humanitarian aid in Darfur is the first item in the AU proposedfour-point agenda for the talks in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. In reaching the agreement, the Sudanese government and the rebels would move on to issues of security, and political, economic and social arrangements in Darfur.

Source: Xinhua