KHARTOUMCity, Shawwal 8, 1438, Jul 2, 2017, SPA -- Sudan will extend a unilateral ceasefire with rebels until the end of October, a decree by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Sunday, two weeks before the United States plans to lift a 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan, Reuters reported The U.S. said on Jan. 13 it would lift the embargo but would wait 180 days before doing so to see whether Sudan acts further to improve its human rights record and resolve political and military conflicts, including in warring regions such as Darfur. On Jan. 15, Bashir extended the ceasefire - in place since October 2016 - for six months in response to the U.S. move. The U.S. said then that it would unfreeze Sudanese assets and lift financial sanctions as a response to Khartoum's cooperation in fighting IS and other militant groups. -- SPA 21:37 LOCAL TIME 18:37 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w439071