AU chief concerned about political crisis in Sudan

October 17, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — African Union Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said on Wednesday he was concerned about the political crisis created when Sudan’s former southern rebels pulled out of the coalition government.

In a statement issued from the AU headquarters, Konare said he is following with concerns the recent developments regarding the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), in particular the decision by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to suspend its participation in the government of national unity.

He urged the parties to the CPA to take all steps required to address outstanding issues and ensure the successful implementation of the CPA, “in both letter and spirit,” in order to promote a lasting peace in Sudan.

On Thursday, SPLM decided to withhold the participation of the movement’s ministers in the central government and freeze the partnership between the SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP) until pending issues between them were settled.

This is the most serious political crisis for the Sudanese government of national unity since it was established in September, 2005, in which the political power is shared between the SPLM and

(Xinhua)