KHARTOUM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Following marathon consultations that lasted for three days, the Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Sunday reached a series of agreements, ending a tension between them aroused by differences over bills associated with elections, the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan and other issues.

The Sudanese President and NCP Chairman Omar al-Bashir and First Vice President and SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir managed on Sunday to reach full agreements on the referendum bill on self-determination for southern Sudan, a bill on the popular consultation for Blue Nile and South Kordofan areas and another bill on the referendum for the disputed enclave of Abyei between northern and southern Sudan.

Senior officials of the two parties announced at a joint press conference following the meeting between al-Bashir and Salva Kiir that the two sides also agreed on formation of a joint committee to review the issue of elections and associating matters, and prepare a climate conducive to free and fair elections that involve all Sudanese political parties.

The NCP and SPLM, however, did not agree on the bill of security and intelligence, which the SPLM argues that it provides too much for the security organs. The two sides decided to continue consultations on the bill and said they expect to agree on it in a few days.

The two sides did not give further details on contents of the agreement on the referendum bill, especially the quorum and the percentage that decides unity or separation of southern Sudan.

The NCP and the SPLM had differed on all essential points of the referendum law, notably on who have the rights to vote, the headquarters of the referendum commission and the percentage that would decide unity or separation.

Rabie Abdul-Atie, a Sudanese political analyst, told Xinhua that the agreement indicated that the road-map set by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between northern and southern Sudan was progressing well and that everything stipulated in the agreement, in particular the elections, would be implemented.

"This agreement indicates ability of the two partners (NCP and SPLM) to overcome any difference," he said.

He stressed that the two sides must maintain a harmonious relationship to be able to address issues of the coming phase, saying "the coming phase cannot bear further differences."

The NCP and the SPLM signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, ending one of the longest civil wars on the African continent.

The latest tension between the two sides started when the SPLM announced withdrawal from the Sudanese National Assembly (parliament) on Oct. 14 in protest against non-endorsement of bills associated with democratic transition in the country, and accused the NCP of procrastination in endorsing those bills.

The two partners had encountered differences, but the recent one had almost destroyed their partnership.

The tension reached the summit when the SPLM led the opposition parties and attempted to stage a demonstration last week. The Sudanese authorities dispersed the demonstration.

The general elections in Sudan are slated for April 2010, while a referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan is set for early 2011.