KHARTOUM, Rabi'II 17, 1438, Jan 15, 2017, SPA -- Sudan said on Sunday it would extend a unilateral ceasefire in fighting with rebels in the country's warring regions to six months, state news agency SUNA reported, according to Reuters. The move comes after the United States said on Friday it would lift a 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan, 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. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir asked the government at a special cabinet meeting on Sunday to prepare procedures to "accommodate for the positive impact of the United States lifting sanctions," SUNA reported. Al-Bashir on Jan. 1 had already extended the ceasefire, in place since October, by just one month. The United States said on Friday it would also unfreeze Sudan's assets and remove financial sanctions as a response to Khartoum's cooperation in fighting IS and other groups. -- SPA 21:17 LOCAL TIME 18:17 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w313098