Nairobi/Khartoum  - Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday announced an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-ridden western province of Darfur.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions provided that an effective monitoring mechanism be put into action and be observed by all involved parties," the Sudan Tribune quoted al-Bashir as saying.

Al-Bashir, against whom the chief prosecutor of International Criminal Court (ICC) has levelled war crimes charges, made the announcement after hearing the final recommendations of the Sudan People's Initiative (SPI).

The SPI was a government-backed initiative that did not include any of the rebel groups active in Darfur.

Al-Bashir also called for an initiative to disarm all militia groups in the province.

However, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), one of the main rebel groups, has rejected the ceasefire and demanded the disarming of the feared Janjaweed militia first.

The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when black tribesmen took up arms against what they call decades of neglect and discrimination by the Arab-dominated Sudanese government in Khartoum.

Since then, Khartoum has been accused of using the Janjaweed militia to commit atrocities against Darfur's black population and suppress the rebels.

A faction of the Sudan Liberation Army and the Sudanese government signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, but fighting has continued as many rebel groups refused to accept the deal.

The UN says up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced by five years of conflict.

Al-Bashir faces charges of crimes against humanity and attempts to exterminate ethnic groups. (dpa)