Nairobi, Jan 10, SPA -- Sudanese leaders signed a peace dealthat, if implemented, will end Africa's longest-runningconflict and transform politics in a nation which has spent40 of the last 50 years mired in civil war. Turning the incredibly detailed agreement into reality,though, may prove more difficult than the eight years oftalks required to draft it. Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Mohammed Taha and JohnGarang, chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Army,signed the peace agreement in a lavish ceremony Sunday inneighboring Kenya _ where the talks were based since 1997.Kenyan and Sudanese performers sang traditional songs anddanced for the crowd. "Our people have experienced the bitterness of war ...peace is indeed going to bring our country abundance,"Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir said after witnessing thesigning. He said the peace agreement is not only betweenthe rebels and the government but, "a new contract for allSudanese." Garang said the deal will transform the nation,guaranteeing equality for all races, ethnic groups andreligions for the first time in the country's history. "This peace agreement will change the Sudan forever,"Garang told a cheering crowd. The deal calls for an autonomous south with its own army,national power and wealth sharing, religious freedom and anew constitution during a six-year interim period. At theend of that period, the 10 southern states will hold areferendum on whether to become independent. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the UnitedStates will not normalize relations with Sudan until thereis peace throughout the country. The deal "will close a dark chapter in the history ofSudan ... This is a promising day for the people of Sudan,but only if today's promises are kept," Powell said. The Sudanese head of state promised to expedite peacetalks on the separate conflicts. "We are going to work together with our peace partners... to ensure peace prevails in every part of thecountry," el Bashir said.--SPA1326 Local Time 1026 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/231350