The Sudanese government and its southern rebel opponents have signed a pledge to complete an agreement to end a 21-year-old civil war by 31 December. With UN Security Council ambassadors bearing witness, a Sudanese government official and a representative of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed on Friday a document pledging to complete a final peace accord by the end of 2004. The accord would effectively end conflict in the oil-producing south of Africa's biggest country. "The parties declare their commitment to expeditiously complete negotiations ... so as to conclude and sign the comprehensive peace agreement no later than 31 December, 2004," the memorandum said. "The parties recommend themselves to finalise and conclude a comprehensive peace agreement in recognition that prompt completion of the peace process is essential for all the people of the Sudan as it will help in resolving all challenges facing the country." **Civil war*** The southern civil war has killed an estimated two million people, mostly from famine and disease, since 1983 when Khartoum tried to imposed Islamic Sharia law on the mainly animist south. Oil and ideology have complicated the conflict, which is separate from the war in the western Darfur region that has also brought tremendous international pressure on Khartoum. Six preliminary peace accords on power-sharing, integrating the military, and dividing oil revenues have been signed. According to the accord, SPLM leader John Garang is to be a vice president in Khartoum, along with current First Vice President Ali Usman Muhammad Taha. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A general view of a special UN council session focused on Sudan in Nairobi. (AFP)