New Sudanese govt – Garang frist VP, Taha second VP

KHARTOUM, June 9, 2005 (SUNA) — A presidency council composed of President of the Republic Omer Al-Bashir, John Garang De Mabior as his first vice president and Ali Osman Mohamed Taha second vice president, would be formed in the coming days following ratification of the interim constitution.

Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, left, and John Garang, chairman of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army share a joke before they signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Sunday, Jan 9, 2005 at Nyayo stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP).

This came in a joint press conference held here Thursday by the two spokesmen of the national constitution commission Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed and Yasir Arman.

Arman said the presidency council is hoped to transfer Sudan to a new stage in its internal and external relations after taking oath.

He affirmed that following the ratification of the constitution by the National Assembly and the Liberation Council of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Rumbeik the state of emergency would be lifted and all political detainees would be released including Dr. Hassan Al-Turabi.

He said Sudan would witness in the coming days new shift in its internal and external relations on the international and regional levels which avails the new government wider room for internal national accord, that subsequently leads to international accord.

Co-spokesman of the commission Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed affirmed in the press conference that the interim constitution contains provisions obliging the two parties to manage Sudan’s external relations in a manner that serves the national interests.