Sudan ends emergency law in most of the country
Sudan, Politics, 7/12/2005

The Sudanese security and intelligence department announced its had lifted censorship imposed on the press, in implementation of presidential decrees issued by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Sunday included lifting restrictions imposed on freedoms, and the ending of the state of emergency.

Press sources in Khartoum said that security and intelligence officers visited press houses on late Sunday evening to inform them about the decision.

A presidential statement said that Bashir lifted the emergency law imposed since 1999 off all parts of Sudan with the exception of five states which are the North Darfur, South Darfur, West Darfur, Kasla and the Red Sea, according to the interim constitution adopted recently, and in agreement with the first vice president John Garang.

The Sudanese president also issued several decisions according to which he exempted his advisors, the ministers, the governors of the northern states and their governorates from their duties, but assigned them to continue performing their duty until a new government is formed.

On Sunday, Bashir took his oath as a president for the Republic of Sudan after he had signed the Interim Constitution. Then an oath was also taken John Garang, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) as the first vice president, and Ali Othman Taha as a second vice president.

The new Sudanese government will be formed within one month from the taking oath ceremony to be followed by general elections after four years according to the peace agreement signed in Nivasha in Kenya.

The agreement states that the share of the ruling national congress party is 52% of the ministerial and parliament seats and the SPLM to get 28% while the parties of the northern and southern opposition to get the remaining 20%.

Previous Stories:
  US support to Sudan reconciliation   (7/11/2005)
  Nazif: Egypt to maintain support of Sudan   (7/11/2005)
  Nazif arrives in Khartoum to attend signing of transitional constitution   (7/9/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search