Sudanese National Council agrees on draft constitution

Mustafa Osman Ismael, the Sudanese foreign minister, said during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri that Sudanese President General Omar Bashir will pay a visit to Egypt soon.

Bashir's visit has been the subject of much discussion in recent months as Egyptian-Sudanese relations improved, and the visit has not been scheduled pending the resolution and finalization of some of the outstanding problems.

Ismael added that Ganzouri discussed with him means of developing political and security relations. He expressed his hope that the exerted efforts can contribute to the restoration of Egyptian - Sudanese relations.

He said in a press statement that there are some suggestions concerning the case of Halaiub, including the establishment of mutual Egyptian - Sudanese projects in the area on the borders between the two countries. Halaiub is a border area that is a source of dispute between the two countries.

Meanwhile, in a session held yesterday in Khartoum, the Sudanese National Council, headed by Hassan El-Tourabi, agreed on a project for a new constitution for the country, which was presented by the president after the inclusion of some amendments. The council refused a number of other amendments proposed by its members, most importantly the exclusion of the south from practicing the verdicts of the Islamic religion.