Bashir promises to lift emergency law

The Sudanese official news agency said yesterday that the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir informed leaders of Muslim and Christian tribes that he will end the current state of emergency in the country after reaching a peace agreement.

During an al-Ifta banquet in Khartoum, Bashir said that peace is of concern to Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. He stressed to the leaders of the two communities that his government is ready to sign a peace agreement shortly but he did not set a certain date for that.

Bashir imposed a state of emergency in the country following a conflict over power between him and the Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi three years ago.

In his speech, Bashir said "should peace be achieved in Sudan, this will mean achieving peace in the neighboring countries and the region as whole." He also urged religious and social leaders in Sudan to strengthen peaceful coexistence among all sects.