Opposition NDA to hold talks with rebel leader Garang in Eritrea

CAIRO, Feb 06, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Leaders from the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) left for the Eritrean capital, Asmara yesterday, to meet the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader, John Garang and hold informal meetings with him.

The opposition leaders said Garang had expressed the wish to meet them in early February, due to his busy schedule with US and Kenyan officials from 13 to 17 February. The NDA leadership will hold a formal meeting in Asmara mid February.

The Chairman of the NDA Mohamed Osman Al Merghani is expected to join this meeting at any moment, the Emirati newspaper Al Khaleej reported.

Garang would inform the meeting about the current stage of peace talks and, to define with his northern allies a common position for the expected negociations between Sudanese government and the NDA.

The NDA has presented a memorandum to the SPLM and GoS asking for NDA participation in the forthcoming round of talks on power sharing.