THE rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army and southern factions loyal to the Khartoum regime have agreed to observe a ceasefire, an official of one of the factions said on Monday. Teny Youk of the United Democratic Salvation Front and a state minister in an interim governing body, said SPLA leader John Garang himself gave instructions for the signature of an accord calling for a comprehensive ceasefire across south Sudan. Youk said the accord follows more than a week of talks in the southern SPLA-held state of Warab and will come into effect ahead of talks between the SPLA and the Khartoum government slated to be held in Nairobi in April. Garang’s support of the accord could not be immediately confirmed independently.