Turabi was intending to quit his party's leadership; Southern Sudan printed its own currency
Sudan, Politics, 6/14/2004

The leader of the people's army for the liberation of Sudan, John Garang, announced that Southern Sudan, which has become closer to peace more than any time before, will shortly embark on a new currency in the context of the vast self- rule which will be declared in it for 6 years when peace is approved.

The new adopted currency will be the new Sudan's Pound. Samsoun Arab, an official at Nile trade bank said in Rombik, southern Sudan, that " monetary papers of 100 and 200 Sudan's new pound were printed while other monetary pieces of 10, 20 ad 50 pounds are ready." Garang said:" we have the money," denying " for security reasons defining the place of storing the new currency.

Meantime, wife of the detained Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi said that the government wants to claim its problems in Darfour area ( west Sudan ) to her husband, noting that his detention reinforced his position instead of margining him. Wesal al-Mahdi said in a press statement that West Sudan is considered a source of troubles for them ( the government) now and therefore they want to blame the Sheikh ( al-Turabi) and to get rid off two sources of unrest in one strike. She said that al-Turabi was planning to quit his post as a secretary general in October. She said he is planning to withdraw from public life but they pushed him now once again to the limelight.

She said that she had visited her husband which leads the opposition People's Congress party since one week and he is OK.

Al-Turabi was a supporter for Omar al-Bashir who established an Islamic government following accession to power in a military coupe in 1989, but he arrested al-Turabi in 2001 after he had signed a controversial agreement with the rebellious people's movement for the liberation of Sudan in the south. Turabi was released in December 2003. Wesal, who is also an official at the People's Congress said she hopes that final peace agreement almost finalized with the people's movement will lead to alleviate restrictions imposed on her husband and lead to his release.

She added that the family asked for putting al-Turabi at home in a separate wing in their house in Khartoum, but no answer was given.

Previous Stories:
  Garang: we will be a great force in the north; The UN Security Council prepares for a force in the south   (6/12/2004)
  Taha: the peace agreement to be signed within 5 weeks; Garang renews threats to south's separation   (6/11/2004)
  Taha starts an Arab tour to explain the inter- Sudanese peace agreement   (6/10/2004)
  The ruling party accuses al-Turabi party of planning acts of destruction, assassination   (4/3/2004)
  Khartoum suspends activities of the people's congress activities; Turabi will be tried over sedition   (4/2/2004)
  Inter- Sudanese peace negotiations in Kenya extended; Turabi detained, accused of supporting Darfour's rebels   (4/1/2004)

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