"We hope that the imminent signing of the peace agreement in Naivasha will be an incentive for reaching peace all over the Sudan and a basis for firm ties between our two peoples," SUNA quoted Bush as saying in his message to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir.

The Sudanese government and the main southern rebel group negotiation in the Kenyan town of Naivasha have agreed on the final issues, including a permanent ceasefire, that were standing in the way of a final peace agreement, mediators said.

In a message to mark the anniversary of Sudan's independence from Britain on January 1, 1956, Bush said he hoped Beshir would take "important and final" steps for an agreement.

The civil war erupted in 1983 when the rebels rose up against Khartoum to end Arab and Muslim domination and marginalisation of the black, animist and Christian south. Since then at least 1.5 million people have been killed and four million others displaced.

The Naivasha deal does not cover another conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region, where tens of thousands of people have died and 1.6 million others displaced in almost two years, but Sudan watchers have said it will go a long way to improving the atmosphere for Darfur peace talks.

Commenting on Bush's message, Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told SUNA it reflected a common interest in "achieving peace and for strengthening bilateral relations" but accused Washington of giving out mixed signals.

"It is difficult to predict the US policy towards the Sudan as one day we receive a positive message and the next day we are surprised with a contradictory step," he said.

He was referring to a bill signed by Bush this month imposing sanctions on Sudan. The legislation was aimed at promoting peace and providing aid for displaced people in Sudan, while imposing an asset freeze and requesting a travel ban on senior officials over the government's failure to stop atrocities in Darfur.

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