Secretary-general of opposition Beja Congress returns to Khartoum

By Sudanese TV

KHARTOUM, Nov. 18, 2003 — The secretary-general of the [opposition] Beja congress and member of the [opposition] NDA [National Democratic Alliance], Umar Muhammad Tahir, returned to Khartoum yesterday after years of armed operations abroad.

Tahir said he had come to work with the government, to support the negotiations for national unity, and push forward peace as a permanent choice.

Tahir confirmed the end of armed operations by the eastern front [of the Beja Congress] and said the Beja Congress’ commitment to peace required the cessation of all hostilities.

He added that he had told all forces to end armed operations in the east.

[The Beja Congress comprises eastern Sudan’s non-Arab, nomadic Beja tribes, who reportedly complain they are being marginalized and their region is impoverished and neglected]

BBC Monitoring Middle East