Sudan's justice minister said 57 men linked to a Darfur rebel attack on the Sudanese capital in 2008 would be freed today, after Khartoum signed a preliminary peace pact with the group.
The first of those to be freed emerged from the prison a few moments after the minister spoke, a Reuters witness said.
"Now we are in the process of releasing the 57. This is the first group," Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat said, adding that he hoped all of the more than 100 men held would be released as peace discussions progressed.
Darfur's most powerful rebel group and the Sudanese government yesterday signed a truce after a year of internationally sponsored negotiations, raising hopes the bloody seven-year conflict could draw to a close.
Rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement announced the ceasefire as the international sponsors of the talks announced a $1 billion development fund for the war ravaged region.
The once bitter enemies, Ibrahim and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, shook hands and embraced after the signing. The ceremony yesterday, hosted by Qatar's Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, was attended by US, UN, African and Arab representatives among others.
The next challenge for the mediators will be getting the dozens of other rebel splinter groups to join the process as the arduous power and wealth-sharing talks begin, especially since JEM is primarily a military movement without the popular base of other rebel groups.
Previous ceasefires and partial peace deals have been short-lived.
"This framework agreement is a very important step," Ibrahim said. "We point out, however, that the road to peace still needs much patience and honest concessions from both sides."
Mr Bashir said he hoped to see a full peace agreement by mid-March and praised the presence of other rebel groups at the ceremony, saying recent steps by them to unify their fractious positions was "good news."
"With this agreement, we take a major step toward ending the war," he said.
The UN estimates that some 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced since ethnic African tribesman in the vast arid western Darfur region took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government complaining of discrimination, lack of political representation and neglect.
"The agreement represents an important step toward an inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement for Darfur, which will address the underlying causes of the conflict and the concerns of all Darfurian communities," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said, citing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
In the last year, violence has ebbed and government forces have gained control of much of France-sized territory.
The framework agreement, which will guide the upcoming talks, was initialled last week in Chad, Sudan's eastern neighbour which it once accused of harbouring Darfur rebels.
The end of the long-running animosity between Sudan and Chad - which sponsored the truce only days after declaring the end to its long proxy war with Sudan - could be the deciding factor in this agreement's longevity.
"This is a point of transformation in the nature of the conflict," said Omar Hasballah, a former Sudanese intelligence officer. "Removing the threat of military operations is important and alone opens the way for dealing with issues of development, representation and compensation."
Mr Bashir, meanwhile, faces a tough international challenge. He is the first sitting head of state to be wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court, where he stands accused of war crimes committed in Darfur.
A settlement in Darfur would defuse criticism abroad and boost his legitimacy at home ahead of the crucial April national elections - the first multiparty elections in the country in decades. Mr Bashir is also running for re-election.
Agencies