Sudan SPLM, Umma party to set up coordination panel

Dec 4, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the opposition National Umma Party have agreed to set up a joint committee to coordinate and cooperate in resolving the country’s political affairs.

The Sudanese first vice-president, Lt-Gen Salva Kiir, held talks in his office at the Guest House with the leader of the opposition Umma party Sadiq al-Mahdi and other party officials this afternoon.

In a statement to Radio Omdurman at the end of the meeting, al-Mahdi said that the meeting comes in the framework of the historical relations between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Umma party.

In 1994, the two parties inked Shagadoum Agreement on the Transitional period and the self determination between the two parties. This accord was signed by Salav Kiir for the SPLM and Omar Nureldayem for the Umma party.

He further said that the meeting discussed issues regarding peace and the democratic changes in the country as well as the Darfur crisis.

Al-Mahdi said he tackled the question of the Sudanese refugees in Cairo with the First Viec President expressing his readiness to collaborate with the SPLM to find a solution to this issue.

(ST)