Sudanese President Sworn InDressed in full military uniform, the president of Sudan was sworn in for a second term Feb.12, promising to respect the constitution of the war-torn country.Omar el-Bashir was sworn in before regional leaders who were in Khartoum for a meeting of the Group of Sahel and Sahara States. Thousands of Sudanese crowded outside parliament Monday, beating drums, chanting and dancing as el-Bashir laid his right hand on the Muslim holy book, the Quran, swearing that he will ``work for the dignity of the people and respect the constitution.'' El-Bashir was re-elected president with 86.5 percent of the vote in December elections that were boycotted by most opposition parties, who called on the military-backed government to restore full political and press freedoms and end the civil war before holding elections. Sudan has been plagued by war since 1983, when southern rebels took up arms to gain autonomy for the mainly Christian and animist south from the Muslim north. Nearly 2 million people have died in the fighting or war-related famines. |
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