Sudanese president expects interim constitution to be finished soon

KHARTOUM, May 3, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir said here Tuesday that he hoped the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) would finish drafting a transitional constitution by the end of June.

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir addresses a crowd in Juba, Sudan Monday Jan. 10, 2004. (AP).

Addressing the Sudanese National Assembly (parliament), El- Bashir said, “I optimistically look forward to seeing the NCRC achieve its work by preparing the constitution of the interim period as soon as possible within the time limit” set by the peace agreement ending a 21-year civil war in south Sudan.

The southern Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement(CPA) signed by the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Jan. 9 stipulated that a six-year interim period will start from July following a six-month period during which the transitional constitution is formulated.

The NCRC started its work on April 30.

El-Bashir said progress had been made in solving the humanitarian crisis in the western Darfur region, with the voluntary return of a good number of displaced to their homes in the region.

He said that all war-affected areas in Darfur were free from diseases, and that residence and food situation had improved.

He said peace talks between his government and the Darfur rebel groups have stalled because of the wrong signals sent out by the UN Security Council’s recent resolutions on Sudan.

Calling for a speedy peace agreement in Darfur, El-Bashir said that the CPA “will constitute a general framework for solving our country’s conflicts” including Darfur.