Sudan: The Republic presidency adopts a party initiative on national reconciliation
Sudan, Politics, 8/8/2003

The Sudanese dailies issued yesterday in Khartoum noted yesterday the announcement made by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on the presidency's adoption of a national dialogue initiative which aims at achieving reconciliation between the government and the opposition forces.

The national dialogue idea was born by the end of July at the invitation of the national forces party for development and peace. In the context of this initiative several Sudanese parties and political forces met to discuss the internal Sudanese situation in order to come out with a united vision to settle the conflicts.

The initiative came after the failure of the 6th round of peace talks between the government and the southern rebels over the government's rejection of the document of negotiation proposed by the secretariat of the governmental commission for development ( IGAD) which sponsors the negotiations in Kenya.

The Sudanese government justified its rejection in that the document provides for the separation of southern Sudan from its south and states non-implementation of the Islamic Sharia rules in the national capital Khartoum. A matter which it considered a violation to the text of the principles of the agreement signed by the two sides in Mashakos, one year earlier.

The Sudanese government has repeatedly announced it will not give up its decision to rejecting the document but will accepting taking part in the second round to be held next Sunday.

Al-Bashir, however, announced his decision to adopt the initiative on Wednesday following his meeting with the committee representing the political forces and parties. The committee includes Issam Ahmad al-Bashir the minister of religious affairs representing the Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim brothers); al-Shafei Ahmad Muhammad representing the ruling National Congress party; al-Haj Warraq representing al-Haq movement; Issam Saddiq the chairman of the national forces for peace and development.

Among the opposition parties which took part in the meetings of the Umma party led by al-Sadeq al-Mahdi and the communist party led by Muhammad Ibrahim and Jaad movement led by lawyer Ghazi Suleiman and the al-Adala ( Justice ) party led by Laam Akoul and the People's Congress party led by Hassan al-Turabi who is currently in prison.

Sources said that the opposition parties have been careful in all meetings for preparing for the initiative to demand the end to the state of emergency, and abrogating laws restricting freedom and setting a schedule for a free election.

Previous Stories:
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  Sudanese judicial commission calls for releasing Hassan al-Turabi   (8/6/2003)
  Sudanese president highlights Syria stances   (8/6/2003)

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