Khartoum expects violence before Addis Ababa negotiations

The secretary-general of the national ruling conference in Khartoum state, Moatesem Abdel-Rahim, stated that before the start of negotiations between the government and the opposition, the Sudanese opposition began to take new territorial areas and to stir up disturbances aimed at improving its position in the negotiations, which will begin on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.

Abdel-Rahim said that the matter could escalate into violent actions, but he stated that specialized forces are alert and ready to frustrate any attempted vandalism, adding that the increased fighting in the east of Gezira and Khartoum aims to affect the negotiations.

Meanwhile, a Sudanese court held its second session yesterday, under the chairmanship of Brigadier General Osman Khalifa to try four accused detainees and 15 accused in absentia, including former prime minister and Nation's Party leader El-Sadeq El-Mahdi, his son Lieutenant Abdel Rahman and the party's secretary-general Omar Nour El-Din.

The defendants are charged with involvement with explosions in Khartoum on the osccasion of President Omar Bashir's annviversary of assuming power.