Garang takes oath as the first Sudanese vice President

Leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM / SPLA), John Garang, today takes his constitutional oath as the Vice President for Omar Hasan al-Bashir, according a historic peace agreement signed in January this year ending more than two decades of civil war.

Some 12 head of states and governments and UN officials, including the UN secretary general Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and the US under secretary of state Robert Zolleick, and the President of South Africa, Thabu Mabeki, are taking part in the celebration ceremony.

This step marks a new phase hoped to lead to a new Sudan dominated by democratic and religious tolerance values, as stressed by signatories of the agreement.

The new Sudanese government will be formed within one month from the taking oath ceremony, and general elections will be held after four years, according to the Nivasha agreement.

The agreement also states that the ruling National Congress party will get 52% of the seats of the government and the parliament, and the SPLM to get 28%, while other northern and southern opposition parties will get the remaining 20%.

By Garang assuming this post, the interim phase of 6 years starts officially, after which the people of southern Sudan, via a referendum, choose whether they want to independence or stay under a united Sudan.