President George W Bush yesterday urged Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to accept a US-backed peace plan to end a 21-year conflict that has claimed 1,5-million lives and displaced four million people.

Bush also talked to John Garang, head of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), to thank the rebel leader for accepting the plan, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

"The president indicated to both President Beshir and Dr Garang that there are moments in history when leaders must rise to make a big difference for their country," McClellan said.

"This is this moment for Sudan. Now is the time for Sudan to show the world they can reconcile their differences, make peace and improve the lives of all Sudanese," he added.

Peace talks between the Sudanese government and the main southern rebel group were due to adjourn yesterday but were extended until March 31 with the hope differences would be resolved by the end of the month, peace mediators in Kenya said.

Bush's special envoy to Sudan John Danforth urged the two sides to wrap up the process by the end of March as further delay might cause international support for the peace process to dissipate.

The final peace deal is being held up by the status of three disputed regions - Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile - and questions over power-sharing.

Bush "told both parties to work with a sense of urgency to finalise an agreement,"mMcClellan said.

"The President urged President Beshir to accept the US' proposal offered by his envoy John Danforth on the disputed areas as the basis for working out remaining issues and completing a framework agreement on the coming days," he said.

The Sudanese conflict, which started in 1983, is the longest in Africa and pits the majority Christian and animist south against the Muslim and Arab north.

US-Sudan relations "will change once a peace agreement is completed," McClellan said.

Bush expressed to the two Sudanese sides his concern over the humanitarian situation and urged the Sudanese president to "rein in militias and open up humanitarian access in the region".

"The president (Bush) offered assurances that the US will remain engaged after a peace is reached to ensure implementation, including US support for international monitors and reconstruction of the south," he added. – Sapa-AFP.