The Sudanese government and rebel forces in the country's eastern region have signed a peace deal ending a decade-long conflict.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Saturday said his government is committed to the agreement.  He made the vow shortly before the deal was signed in a ceremony in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.  

The government had announced the agreement earlier this week.

The rebels are a coalition of two ethnic groups called the Eastern Front. They are seeking greater autonomy and more control over their region's natural resources.  They have been joined by rebels from the south and the western Darfur region. 

This is the third peace agreement Khartoum has reached with various rebel groups in less than two years.

The northern-based government signed a landmark power-sharing deal in January 2005 that ended more than two decades of fighting with southern rebels. 

The government also signed a peace accord back in May with the western rebels, but the fighting in Darfur continues. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.