"The remaining issues, while they are certainly significant issues, are not as difficult and not as contentious as the two that have already been resolved," former senator Danforth, who is US President George W. Bush's envoy to Sudan, told a news conference.

The envoy recalled that this time last year, the Khartoum government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLA/M) reached an understanding on the main points of contention: the separation of church and state and the future status of southern Sudan.

Danforth said the remaining issues, which he listed as "wealth-sharing, power-sharing, security (and) the status of the capital" were "in my opinion, very solvable."

"My belief is the parties are very close to resolving (them) and that is possible in a short period of time... provided, provided that each of the two sides truly wants peace," he said.

"I think we will know in the next few weeks if there is any hope in this," he added, warning that international support for the peace talks would quickly wane if the two sides failed to prove their good faith within this period.

WAR.WIRE