Chad and Sudan exchange ambassadors

Khartoum: Sudan and Chad on Sunday resumed diplomatic relations and exchanged ambassadors after a six month diplomatic rift that saw the two countries trading accusations of assisting rebel each others' rebels.

The new ambassadors gave a joint press conference in Khartoum and described the move as the first step in solving the persistent crisis in Darfur.

"This is a historical day and we hope it will be the end of the terrible diplomatic tension that went on between the two countries for six months," said Abdullah Al Shaikh, Sudan's new ambassador to Chad.

His Chadian counterpart said the countries have historical ties and "if some problems arise then people should sit down and resolve them."

Sudan has accused Chad of supporting Darfur-based rebels who launched an attack on Khartoum in May and immediately cut diplomatic ties with Chad. Chad in turn closed its border with Sudan and stopped bilateral trade.