**The leaders of Sudan and of its semi-autonomous southern region say they have reached a deal on the terms of a referendum on independence.**The bill was one of four issues at the heart of crisis talks between President Omar al-Bashir and Salva Kiir.
After four days, the pair have reached agreement on three of the points, they said. Details have yet to be given.
The two decade-long war between North and South ended in 2005, but the peace process has been looking shaky.
The two leaders fought each other during the civil war and have been uneasy partners since a peace deal was signed in 2005.
Elections are due in April next year and in 2011 the South will vote in a referendum on possible independence.
Full details surrounding the terms of that referendum have not yet been released, as both leaders will take the deal to their parties first, reports the BBC’s James Copnall in Khartoum.
But a senior official for Mr Kiir’s party, the former Southern rebels of the SPLM, told the BBC that a 50% plus one vote would be needed for independence, as long as the turnout was high enough.
He said that the minimum figure had been set at between 55% and 60%, and would be announced shortly.
The two leaders also achieved agreement on a referendum for one small region, Abyei, and popular consultations for two others.
The remaining sticking point concerns a law on the role of the national security service - essentially revolving around how much power this controversial body should have, our correspondent says.