World in brief

Accord signing moves Sudan closer to ending deadly civil war

Moving to end a 21-year civil war, Sudan's government and rebels agreed on issues Tuesday that had prevented a final peace deal, officials said.

The parties still have to agree on the details of a comprehensive cease-fire before the war could be declared over.

Then it could take months to determine whether the diplomatic solution will translate to peace on the ground.

The agreement is not expected to have a direct impact on a separate rebellion in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Negotiators plan to sign three protocols wrapping up the outstanding issues today, officials said.

Late Tuesday, the two parties were still finalizing the details of the protocols - which cover power-sharing and the administration of three disputed areas in central Sudan - but they will sign the accords today, rebel spokesman Samson Kwaje said.

The two negotiating teams had agreed to allow Islamic law, or Sharia, to prevail in Khartoum provided there are guarantees for citizens of Christian and animist faiths. The question of which religion should dominate the capital has long been contested.

More than 2-million people have perished - mainly through war-induced famine - in Africa's longest-running war since the rebels from the mainly animist and Christian south took up arms against the predominantly Arab and Muslim north in 1983.

EBOLA OUTBREAK KILLS FIVE: The World Health Organization confirmed Tuesday that five people have died of Ebola in southern Sudan, but dismissed fears that a new variant strain of the disease had emerged. In addition to the dead, 14 other people are infected with the hemorrhagic fever, WHO said. The U.N. agency said a known form of the virus was responsible for the outbreak. The Ebola virus is spread by contact with body fluids, including sweat and saliva.

BAD WATER KILLS IN PAKISTAN: Nine people have died and 1,600 have been sickened after drinking contaminated water from a state-operated reservoir in southern Pakistan, officials and witnesses said Tuesday.

Dr. Hadi Bakhsh from the main hospital in the city of Hyderabad, 60 miles northeast of the port city Karachi, said people suffering from diarrhea began showing up more than two weeks ago.

The source of contamination is unknown, and authorities have ordered an investigation.

Government officials have announced $3,500 in compensation for families of each person who died.

MARITIME ANTITERROR RULES: Fewer than 6 percent of the world's seaports and ships adhere to U.N. rules aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, the head of the U.N.'s maritime agency said Tuesday.

The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization said it would begin enforcing the International Ship and Port Security code when it takes effect July 1, which could disrupt shipping.

The code, adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to protect ports and vessels from terrorism, requires port staff and ships' crews to conduct regular antiterror drills, restrict the number of weapons and visitors aboard vessels, and have attack contingency measures in place.

Commercial vessels are also required to submit security plans to the maritime agency.

Only 301 of about 5,500 port facilities comply with the security code.

SUPPLIES BOUND FOR SPACE: Russia successfully launched a cargo spacecraft Tuesday loaded with fuel, food and mail for the Russian-American crew of the international space station, an official at mission control said.

The Progress M-49 craft lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Soyuz-U rocket at 8:34 a.m. EDT, spokeswoman Vera Medvedkova said. It is scheduled to dock with the station today at 9:55 a.m.

Russian commander Gennady Padalka and American flight engineer Michael Fincke arrived April 21 for a six-month stint at the station, whose assembly has been on hold since the space shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003.

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