Garang, Al-Turabi to meet soon in southern Sudanese town of Rumbek

BBC Monitoring Middle East

By Alittihad Emirati daily newspaper

CAIRO, Nov 13, 2003 — A leader in the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM], Pagan Amum, has reported that SPLM leader Dr John Garang will meet the leader of the opposition Popular National Congress [PNC], Dr Hasan al-Turabi, at his HQ in Rumbek town, southern Sudan.

Pagan said that the meeting would not be a European-style one as it is being reported, but it would be a Sudanese meeting on Sudanese territory and Dr Al-Turabi had accepted the invitation. Amum added that the date of the meeting will be specified later.

Amum added that the Sudanese opposition leaders will hold their next meeting in Rumbek, southern Sudan, and that Dr Garang discussed this with the leader of National Democratic Alliance [NDA], Al- Sayyid Uthman al-Mirghani, because the areas under SPLM control are perceived as NDA areas too.

He added that no-one should be surprised by Al-Mirghani going to the south as the NDA is calling for the unity of Sudan.