{mosimage}JUBA, Sudan (AFP) - President Omar al-Beshir made a rare visit to autonomous southern Sudan on Wednesday, signing a development contract half way through implementation of a landmark peace accord between north and south.

The head of state, who faces a possible international arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in Sudan's western region of Darfur, was greeted by a full guard of honour at Juba airport.

Wearing a safari suit and accompanied by stringent security he then drove into town to sign a hydroelectric agreement, which officials in Khartoum said paved the way for three dams to be built in southern Sudan.

"The contract will be with a Chinese company to build three dams, two in Equatoria and the third in Bahr el-Ghazal," spokesman for the dams authority, Isam Omar, told AFP in Khartoum, providing no further details.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy confirmed its ambassador was in Juba and that a contract had been signed, but could not provide further details.

China has opened a new consulate in Juba determined to tap greater economic potential from the undeveloped region, its consul said on Tuesday.

"Now as you know, many Chinese companies would like to come here to look forward to the chances, the opportunities for cooperation," Zhang Qingyang told reporters.

Beshir last visited Juba in January 2007 when he and First Vice President Salva Kiir, the former rebel who leads the south, traded accusations over failures in implementing the 2005 agreement that ended 21 years of civil war.

Since then, Kiir's Sudan People's Liberation Movement has been the main if not always easy coalition partner of the president's National Congress party.

Last month, the International Criminal Court prosecutor accused Beshir of masterminding a genocidal campaign in Darfur and requested an arrest warrant on 10 charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Rebels in the country's western region of Darfur first rose up against Beshir's Arab-dominated regime in 2003, fighting for resources and power -- similar motives to those that inspired decades of southern rebellion against Khartoum.

Since the Darfur accusations, Beshir has been at pains to emphasise national unity. His regime has waged a diplomatic campaign to get any legal proceedings suspended and convince detractors it is working for peace.

On August 8, after a three-year impasse, he appointed a chief administrator -- a southerner -- and a northern deputy for the contested oil district of Abyei where fighting three months ago threatened to reignite civil war.

The administrators were given two weeks to name a seven-member administrative council and an additional area council of 20, but no formal announcement on their make-up has been made.

Beshir has also made Kiir chairman of a top-level crisis committee appointed in a bid to counter the calls from the prosecutor for his arrest.

China Opens New Consulate In Southern Sudan - Consul

JUBA, Sudan (AFP)--China has opened a new consulate in Sudan's autonomous south, determined to tap greater economic potential from the undeveloped region, its new consul said Wednesday.

"Now as you know, many Chinese companies would like to come here to look forward to the chances, the opportunities for cooperation," Zhang Qingyang told reporters.

"In this case also, I am sure the southern Sudan government would assist or support them to settle down here to do their business while here.

"Meanwhile, we also have the duty to look after them to keep their interest while they are here. That's our intention."

China has close ties with the Sudanese central government in Khartoum and is the chief buyer of the African nation's oil and a key investor in its economy.

Beijing has come under fire from human rights groups and countries in the West that have urged the Chinese government to do more to end five years of war in the Darfur region, which began before the end of the north-south civil war.

Officials from the south welcomed the arrival of the Chinese.

"China is playing a very important role in development throughout the Sudan, particularly in the northern part, where they have carried out very successful projects," said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, regional cooperation minister.

"The Chinese government has decided they need to be here, in Juba, so that they can assist in the implementation of the peace process, especially in the area of coordinated development of southern Sudan to enhance development."

Sudan is just over halfway through implementing a six-year peace agreement that formally ended 21 years of devastating civil war between north and south.

As the final step, the south will hold a referendum in 2011 on whether to secede from the rest of Sudan.