Sudan's Opposition Leader Reiterates Support for Egyptian-Libyan InitiativeThe leader of Sudan's opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday reiterated support for an Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative aimed at helping realize national reconciliation in Sudan.During a meeting with Secretary General of the ruling National Congress Party Ibrahim Ahmad Omar, Muhammad Osman Merghani said that the three conditions, set by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), on taking part in dialog with the government are not binding to his United Democratic Party (UDP). The Sudanese El-Raei el-Am daily on Wednesday quoted Omar as saying that the attitude adopted by the NDA towards the initiative is "very clear." The SPLA said last week that its participation in the dialog with the government depends on three conditions - including the right of self-determination, separating religion from state and agreeing on a new transitional constitution. Sudan's opposition parties have all accepted the peace plan, proposed by Egypt and Libya last June, but SPLA's conditions have put a major obstacle to the country's peace process. The NDA groups the Muslim opposition political parties, including UDP, which want to share power with the government, and the SPLA, the major rebel group which has been fighting since 1983 for greater autonomy in southern areas, dominated by Christians and animists. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |