KHARTOUM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Ethiopia on Tuesday signed a protocol in Khartoum to deploy joint forces on the border between them.

Meetings of the Sudanese-Ethiopian military committee concluded in Khartoum Tuesday, under chairmanship of the two countries' chiefs of staff.

"Today we signed a protocol for deployment of joint forces on the border," Kamal Abdul-Marouf Al-Mahi, Sudanese army's chief of joint staff, told reporters Tuesday.

"The deployment of the joint forces aims to control the border, combat cross-border crimes and prevent illegal immigration," he added.

Seare Mekonen, Ethiopian army's chief of staff, for his part, said that "Sudan and Ethiopia are committed to working together to sustain peace and secure the border."

The meetings of the joint Sudanese-Ethiopian military committee, held in Khartoum during March 10-12, reviewed a number of issues related to development of military cooperation and joint work and means of enhancing them.