"The two parties have to take difficult decisions on political issues that have not yet been resolved," Alan Goulty told a press conference when asked about the peace talks that will resume next month in Kenya.

"Failure cannot be an option to the negotiating parties as, I believe, every political leadership in Sudan is convinced of the need for reaching a comprehensive and just solution to the conflict," he said.

Goulty, speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Khartoum, said international donors would make pledges of assistance to Sudan as soon as a peace agreement is finalised.

Kenyan mediators sponsoring the peace talks between the Arab-Islamist government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) have predicted an agreement could be signed as early as August.

The two parties will try at their next round of talks to finalise an agreement reached in July 2002 in Kenya, under which southern Sudan will have six years of administrative autonomy and not be subject to the Islamic laws applied in the north.

At the end of the six years, its people will be asked to vote on whether they want to stay part of Sudan or secede.

WAR.WIRE