Sudanese protesters sign transition deal with army

Military council and main opposition coalition sign power-sharing deal paving the way for transition to civilian rule. The deal creates a joint military and civilian sovereign council to rule for a little over three years until elections can be held. A military leader would head the 11-member council for the first 21 months, followed by a civilian leader for the next 18.

Khartoum: Sudan's pro-democracy movement on Saturday signed a final power-sharing agreement with the ruling military council at a ceremony in the capital, Khartoum.

The deal paves the way for a transition to the civilian-led government following the military overthrow of then-president Omar al-Bashir in April.

The signing capped weeks of tortuous negotiations between the military and protest leaders.

Earlier this month, the two sides initiated a constitutional document in the wake of international pressure and amid growing concerns that the political crisis could ignite a civil war.Ethiopia and the African Union co-led mediation efforts between the military and protesters.Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, international envoys and many regional leaders attended Saturday's ceremony.

Attendees in the Friendship Hall where the ceremony took place received Ahmed with cheering chants.

Sudanese celebrated in Khartoum and elsewhere across the country.The power-sharing deal creates a joint military and civilian sovereign council to rule for a little over three years until elections can be held.A military leader would head the 11-member council for the first 21 months, followed by a civilian leader for the next 18.