**The Sudanese authorities are to release 57 prisoners from the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), officials say.**Sudan’s justice minister said the papers were “being processed”, Reuters news agency reported.
The releases follow the ceasefire deal signed on Tuesday by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with Jem, one of Darfur’s main rebel groups.
The deal raises hopes of an end to years of conflict in Darfur, however some rebel factions have not signed up.
Jem’s leader, Khalil Ibrahim, hailed the deal as “a very important step”.
The arrests followed a Jem raid on Omdurman, a city just across the River Nile from Khartoum, in 2008.
More than 100 rebels were detained and several have been executed.
President Bashir said on Saturday some of the rebels would be freed after the ceasefire deal was signed in Doha.