Sudanese president denies intention to exile Turabi

The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has denied any intention at the Sudanese government to exile the secretary general of the people's congress party Hassan al-Turabi, currently in prison, to the state of Qatar or to any country.

In a statement to the Sudanese daily al-Sahafi al-Dawli issued on Monday, President al-Bashir said "we have not thought any time to exile Dr. al-Turabi abroad. Now we are dealing with him according to the law and that legal investigations and measures are pursued concerning him."

Concerning negotiations between the government and the nation's council ( Hizb al-Ummah) led by al-Sadeq al-Mahdi, the Sudanese President explained that "an understanding was maintained between the government and Hizbul Ummah which practices its political activities from inside the country after it returned back from abroad." Al-Turabi added " we have only to agree on sharing the authority. But we do not expect this step to be made very soon because Hizbul Ummah ( the nation party) has taken a position in not to take part only after making general elections or after convening a pan- dialogue conference and the success of such a conference."

The Sudanese President also talked about IGAD's initiative for a peaceful solution in Sudan as well as the joint Libyan- Egyptian initiative. He added that the joint initiative is more comprehensive than that of IGAD and " we are now waiting for the two countries of the initiative, namely Egypt and Libya in order to debate a paper of principles which has to be agreed upon and then a dialogue conference will be held."