The Sudanese Government has extended a state of emergency until the end of the year.

It was imposed by President Omar al-Bashir in December when he dissolved parliament following a power struggle with the Islamist parliamentary speaker, Hassan al-Turabi.

Under the state of emergency, the government has greater powers to arrest people and to prevent political gatherings, although correspondents say there have been no perceptible changes in daily life.

The official Sudan news agency said the extension was to "consolidate political gains".

Mr Turabi, who remains secretary-general of the ruling National Congress party, has repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of President Bashir's move and accused him of acting autocratically.

Mr Turabi was long seen as the guiding force behind the Khartoum government.

Since he was moved aside, hopes have been raised that efforts to resolve the 17-year civil war may bear more fruit.

Sudan has resumed dialogue with the United States and has had positive contacts with several regional neighbours.

Political parties return

In another move, the government has approved a law allowing the formation of political parties, outlawed since President Bashir took office 10 years ago.

The opposition has rejected the new law, saying all laws must be approved by a multi-party government.

They said the president would still be able to suspend the activities of opposition parties, as they would have to register with the government before being allowed to contest elections.

An opposition spokesman, Adam Moussa of the Umma Party, said the law was aimed at deceiving the international community into believing that Sudan had political freedom.