NCP minimizes opposition refusal to participate in next Sudan’s cabinet

May 2, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The National Congress Party (NCP) played down the rejection of opposition parties to recognize the election results and to participate in the next government.

The Sudanese opposition parties which had participated in April elections, as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP), rejected the announced results accusing the NCP of rigging during the electoral operations.

The two parties also declined to participate in the next government, which is expected to be formed by the end of May, following a proposal made by the dominant party. However the SPLM which had an electoral alliance with the opposition forces watered down its position in recent weeks and said negotiating to participate with 30%of ministerial portfolios.

The NCP “does not insist on the participation of these parties in the government or consider their refusal to recognize the election results,” said Mustafa Osman Ismail, head of the NCP foreign relations office on Sunday.

Mustafa said this rejection is mainly motivated by their severe defeat in the elections. He also stressed that the NCP seeks to form a broad based government based on the weight of political forces represented in the parliament.

The Umma Party with the SPLM Northern sector besides other small political forces boycotted the election. However, Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the leader of the Umma party said ready to discuss the formation of a national consensus government to seeking to maintain the integrity o fthe country and to end Darfur conflict.

The Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir, who is reelected with 68%, said only political parties that participated in the elections, can take part in this government, rejecting Al-Mahdi proposal.

(ST)