Garang’s party to bolster ties with another Sudanese opposition party

KHARTOUM, Feb 19, 2005 (Alwan) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has stressed its total commitment to promoting its relations with the Islamist Popular National Congress (PNC).

It has called for transforming the memorandum of understanding signed between them to political agreements which can be govern political process in Sudan.

John Garang leader of SPLM said the memorandum of understanding signed with the PNC four years ago had paved way for the peace process in Sudan. He said he appreciates the role of the PNC on the basis of its Islamic movement’s weight. He stressed SPLM’s serious commitment to strengthen its relations PNC in coming period.

In a meeting with a PNC delegation yesterday morning in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, he apologized to the delegation for failing to meet them in the past due to his preoccupation with emergency issues.

On his part, Ali al-Haj asked the SPLM to take serious steps towards establishing freedoms with and the release of political prisoners beginning Hassan al-Turabi — leader of the PNC currently being detained by the Sudanese government. The PNC welcomed the signing of the peace agreement between SPLM and the Sudanese government.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.