This is Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.

Sudan has had conflict throughout its history. The country gainedits independence from Britain in nineteen-fifty-six. The current warin Sudan began twenty one years ago. Black southerners rebelledagainst their treatment by the Arab government in the north. At thattime the government ordered non-Muslims to honor Islamic law.

Sudan has about thirty-million people. Most in the north areMuslim. The south is mostly Christian or animist. Rebels of theSudan People's Liberation Army want greater self-rule for the south.

Two-million people have died in the war, mostly through hungerand disease. Four-million others have been displaced. Disputes overoil, ethnicity and differing cultural beliefs have added to theconflict.

The current peace talks beganeight months ago in Kenya. A cease-fire is supposed to remain ineffect during the talks. The government and the rebels have beenattempting to settle final disputes. They have already signedagreements to divide state and religion, form a new army and shareoil profits after the war ends.

But the agreements do not cover the conflict in the Darfur areaof western Sudan. Violence has continued there for more than a year.The United Nations calls the situation in Darfur one of the worsthumanitarian crises in the world. Many people have been killed. Manymore risk starvation. And, more than one-hundred-thousand peoplehave fled to Chad.

The people in Darfur are black Muslim farmers. They rebelled inFebruary of last year. They said the government did not care enoughabout them. They demanded the same compromises offered to Christiansin the south. Since then, armed Arab groups known as janjaweed haveburned villages and towns in Darfur. They are also accused ofwidespread sexual attacks and murder.

The Sudanese government has faced criticism for not stopping theviolence. The government in Khartoum has denied any involvement. Ithas offered to cooperate with the United States, the United Nationsand international aid groups to help the displaced people.

Under pressure, Sudan invited a U-N human rights team and thehead of the World Food Program to visit the area. And late this weekSudan said it suspended the need for travel permits for aid workersto visit Darfur.

Sudan still has other problems in the south. In recent days,fighting re-started in the Upper Nile area. The Sudan People'sLiberation Army controls that area. The fighting has forcedthousands of people from their homes.

And, on Friday, the World Health Organization reported ten casesof what it called an Ebola-like infection in southern Sudan. It saidfour people in Western Equatoria province had died from the virus.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.This is Steve Ember.