Sudan ruling NCP rejects Turabi’s calls for transitional government

April 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) dismissed calls made yesterday by the leader of a Sudanese opposition party for the creation of a transitional government to prepare for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 2010.

Yesterday Hassan Al-Turabi who heads the Popular Congress Party (PCP) criticized the current formation of the government saying that it is a “one man show” and stressed that the government he is calling for should consist of national figures, not a coalition government of political parties.

But the NCP quickly dismissed Turabi’s proposal accusing the Islamist leader of seeking to topple the government.

“This is a new attempt by Dr. Turabi for a regime change after the International Criminal Court (ICC) plot supported by him failed” NCP political bureau Secretary General Mandoor Al-Mahdi was quoted by the official news agency (SUNA).

“The PCP is the only party that called for return of neo-colonialism through the ICC whose plot was thwarted by local and international rejection to its decision against the president of the republic” Al-Mahdi said.

Al-Turabi was released from jail last month after being detained after making public remarks calling on Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to turn himself in to the ICC.

The NCP official said the formation of the government and its term is determined by the Naivasha agreement signed with the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) which governs the south.

“The duration of the parliament and according to the constitution ends next year and for that we consider the PCP proposal rejected and the current government will stay in power till the next elections” he said.

Al-Mahdi however, did not rule out any dialogue with the PCP saying that the base of Turabi’s party are not happy with his positions.

“There is no logical reason for the formation of a transitional government the present time….calling for a new government will trigger trouble in the country…the upcoming elections will be internationally monitored and administered by an independent commission guaranteeing that is fair and impartial” he said.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 between the NCP and the SPLM provided for elections to be held no later than July 2009 as part of a democratic transition in the country.

But a number of outstanding laws and the pending census results as well as logistical obstacles forced a delay till next year.

(ST)