Qatari Emir arrives in Sudan today

Prince of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani arrived today in Khartoum in a 24-hour visit during which he is to meet with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir.

The Sudanese News Agency said that Qatar's emir will hold talks with Sudanese officials to sign agreements on economic and technical cooperation. Prince Hamad will attend the celebrations during which President Bashir will sign the new constitution approved by the Sudanese people in a recently-held referendum and will be put into actual realization following its signing.

This is the first visit of a Gulf state's leader to Sudan since the Gulf War.

Meanwhile, Sudan celebrated the ninth anniversary of the Sudanese "National Salvation Revolution" with the participation of delegations from Arab and African countries. A large number of Sudanese citizens arrived at the "Green Square" to celebrate the occasion in the presence of the states' main officials, Arab and foreign delegations invited to the celebration and members of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions in Khartoum.

President al-Bashir is expected to sign the draft of the permanent constitution so as to be valid as of today. At the Presidential palace and following the signing ceremony he will deliver a speech on Sudan's internal and foreign policy strategies.