The parties to Sudan's 2005 peace agreement have agreed to accept the results of last week's election and to form a new unity government, the Sudan Tribune reports from Juba.

The online newspaper said this was agreed at a meeting Tuesday between Southern Sudan's leader, Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, deputy chair of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).

"The incumbent president... is expected to remain the President of the Republic while Salva Kiir is expected to continue as First Vice President of the Republic and President of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan," the Tribune reported.

"Observers say that the agreement between the two respective ruling parties in the North and South, committing themselves to acceptance of the results before they are officially released, signifies a giant step towards maintaining the status quo."

The paper said the SPLM candidate for the national presidency, Yasir Saeed Arman - who withdrew from the election - had attended the Juba meeting, along with SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum. The two leaders have complained that the NCP rigged elections in Southern Blue Nile state.

SPLM agents were reporting that their candidate for state governor was in the lead, but pro-NCP media were reporting the opposite, according to the Tribune. The SPLM candidate, Malik Aggar, reportedly issued a statement on Tuesday evening saying he will accept the election results regardless of who wins the governorship post.

The SPLM boycotted the polls in most states in the north but took part in those in Southern Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.