AL chief meets NDA leader on latest developments in Sudan

CAIRO, July 19, 2005 (Xinhua) — Arab League (AL) chief Amr Moussa on Tuesday discussed with leader of the Sudanese National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Mohamed Osman al-Merghani the latest developments in Sudan.

Merghani told reporters after the meeting that they discussed the outcome of a Cairo agreement signed in June between the Khartoum government and the NDA, which is believed to change the political landscape of the conflict-ridden African country.

The agreement, inked by then Sudanese First Vice President Ali Taha and NDA leader Merghani, ended 16 years of hostilities between Khartoum and the country’s largest opposition group.

The NDA, an umbrella opposition group, includes a dozen or so largely northern political parties, trade union representatives and the southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Merghani lauded a key role played by Egypt and the AL in realizing peace and stability in Sudan.

A political delegation from the NDA political and military committee is expected to head for Khartoum in the coming days to continue negotiations on a number of topics, which have been tackled in Cairo, he said.

Merghani spoke of a new reality in Sudan after Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, First Vice President John Garang, leader of the SPLM, and Second Vice President Taha took the constitutional oath.

He expressed hope that stability would now prevail in all parts of Sudan through the participation of all political powers.

Merghani said he would take part in the coming presidential and parliamentary elections as long as they are fair.

While the alliance’s leadership is scheduled to hold a meeting in Asmara of Ethiopia on Aug. 15 to determine whether it will return and take part in the government.