KHARTOUM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of senior political and military officials of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) arrived in Khartoum on Saturday morning to sign a peace deal with the Sudanese government.

"We have returned to Khartoum following intensive negotiations with the government after we have become fully convinced with importance of reaching a comprehensive peace to end the suffering of our people in Darfur," Ahmed Mohamed Wady, head of the group, told reporters upon their arrival at Khartoum airport.

Secretary of Political Mobilization at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Haj Majid Suwar, who received the group at the airport, told reporters that an agreement would be signed later on Saturday between the group and the Sudanese government.

"We have held three rounds of negotiation with this group. The negotiations resulted in a framework agreement that we will complete today," he said.

"This agreement will contribute to ending all the tension in Kordofan region, which is adjacent to Darfur, and help achieving comprehensive stability in Sudan," he added.

The Sudanese government is currently conducting intensive contacts with the Darfur rebel groups in a bid to reach a peaceful settlement for the Darfur issue before the general elections, scheduled for April this year.