Sudan's government and southern rebels have signed a peace deal formally ending Africa's longest-running war.

Sudanese Vice President Al Osman Mohammad Taha and rebel leader John Garang pledged to end more than 21 years of fighting during a ceremony Sunday in Nairobi, Kenya.

The ceremony included U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell who urged Sudan's government to advance peace in a separate conflict in the western Darfur region.

Mr. Powell said Sudan's future and its relationship with the United States rely on achieving peace throughout the entire nation.

Today's peace deal includes terms for sharing power and oil resources, and calls on rebels and ruling party officials to form an interim coalition government, followed in six years by a southern vote on independence.

An estimated two million people have died during the war between the Arab-controlled government and mostly black southern rebels, mainly of famine and disease.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.