Al-Ahram: Taha: Presidential elections in Sudan, 6 years after transitional period

Sudan's (First) Vice-President, Ali Othman Muhammad Taha said in an interview published yesterday in the Egyptian daily al-Ahram that presidential elections will be organized in the country after the end of the provisional period which extends for 6 years as stated in the peace process.

Taha explained that "it was agreed that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to continue in the rule and the presidential elections to be postponed until after the end of the provisional period which extends for 6 years." The Sudanese official was pointing to the experimental self- rule phase of 6 years stated in Mashakos agreement which was finalized in Kenya in 2002 between the Sudanese government and the rebels.

The southern rebels asked for a periodical presidency during the said 6 years, three for the authority and three for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (southern rebels). Taha explained that "great changes will take place including the reform of the government so as to include representatives for all areas in the south, north, east and west and also representatives for various political forces including the people's movement in the south and other trends and movements."

Meantime, the US Department Of State said that the US Secretary of State Colin Powell will be arriving today in Kenya to support the Sudanese peace talks because the success of these negotiations is "an important objective" for Washington.