The United States on Saturday welcomed a provisional agreement forged by Sudan's ruling military council and a coalition of opposition and protest groups to share power for three years as an "important step forward."
The U.S. State Department said in statement that special envoy for Sudan Donald Booth will return to the region soon.
The agreementbrokered by the African Union and Ethiopia Union, announced on Friday, is dueto be finalized on Monday.
"The agreementbetween the Forces for Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Councilto establish a sovereign council is an important step forward," the StateDepartment said. "We look forward to immediate resumption of access to theinternet, establishment of the new legislature, accountability for the violentsuppression of peaceful protests, and progress toward free and fairelections."
The deal revivedhopes for a peaceful transition of power in a country plagued by internalconflicts and years of economic crisis that helped to trigger the overthrow ofOmar al-Bashir in April.
Relations betweenthe military council that took over from Bashir and the Forces for Freedom andChange alliance broke down when security forces killed dozens of people as theycleared a sit-in on June 3. But after huge protests against the military onSunday, African mediators brokered a return to direct talks.
