A Sudanese minister yesterday voiced optimism about peace prospects in Sudan after the United States intensified its mediating role there, but denied the prolonged war in the south is a religious or ethnic conflict.

Chol Deng Alak, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, also paid tributes to President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for supporting Sudan.

"The new U.S. role in Sudan has given a fresh push to the peace process...such a role came after new global developments and Washington's decision to reconsider its relations with other countries," he said in a lecture at the Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up.

"We hope there will be a settlement to this war, which I do not see as a religious war caused by southern demands to abolish Islamic laws...don't forget that the war first erupted when Sudan was under colonialism...this shows that the real problem is the uneven participation in the authority, unfair distribution of wealth and lack of balanced development."

He said oil played a key role in the war in south Sudan but it was not the cause of the conflict, which erupted before oil was discovered.

He sounded optimistic about a forthcoming meeting between Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, southern rebel leader John Garang and former prime minister Sadeq Al Mahdi.

He said he hoped global changes would have a positive effect on Garang, who has frequently pulled out of previous peace negotiations.

Alak acknowledged the role played by Sheikh Zayed in supporting Sudan, mediating a peaceful solution and in preventing its disintegration.

"His Highness has also played a major role in supporting development and building the infrastructure in Sudan," he noted.