[David]

AP


N'DJAMENA, Chad – Chad's president says Darfur's most powerful rebel group has signed a truce with the Sudanese government.

Idriss Deby said in a statement Saturday that the truce between the rebel Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese government takes effect immediately.

JEM was the most significant holdout in efforts to end the seven-year conflict in Darfur in which 300,000 people have lost their lives to violence, disease and displacement.

Besides the dead, the U.N. says 2.7 million were driven from their homes in the fighting between ethnic African rebels and the government and Arab militias.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Darfur's most powerful rebel group says it will sign a temporary cease-fire deal with the Sudanese government on Saturday.

The rebel Justice and Equality Movement was the most significant holdout in efforts to end the seven-year conflict in which 300,000 people have lost their lives to violence, disease and displacement.

Rebel spokesman Ahmed Hussein said in a phone interview the group would sign the truce deal in Chad's capital, N'Djamena.

He said a broader agreement on security arrangements and refugees will be signed within three days in Qatar, which has meditated the talks.

Besides the dead, the U.N. says 2.7 million were driven from their homes in the fighting between ethnic African rebels and the government and Arab militias.