Bashir: 2003 is the year of peace; IGAD supports Sudan

The Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir expressed before IGAD regional summit in Kampala his confidence in the success of the Sudanese peace process and the end of conflict by the end of this year. The date which the US Secretary Of State Colin Powell called for abiding by.

In an inaugural speech Bashir, whose presidency for IGAD has expired, said that "Sudan is progressing gradually towards comprehensive peace and we are confident we will reach it." He said "There are positive indicators that the current year will be a year of peace."

On Thursday, the Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said in Kampala that "it is difficult to set a final date for reaching an agreement, but the American statements indicate the interest of the USA on the need to reaching the settlement as soon as possible." He added "we work seriously, and hope we will be able to reach a settlement by the end of the year."

In a statement (IGAD ) leaders vowed to support "rebuilding, and efforts for building peace in Sudan." Presidents of Kenya and Uganda, the Ethiopian prime minister, the President of the provisional government in Somalia Abdul Qasem Salat Hassan and the chairman of the African federation who is President of Mozambique and the foreign ministers of Djibouti and Eritrea discussed the terrorist threats in the African horn area and the Somali question.

Uganda President said that leaders of the Somali factions should give up points of differences to seize the current opportunity.