Sudan’s Taha criticises al-Bashir rejection of Darfur UN force

July 25, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha criticised implicitly the rejection of the UN force for Darfur by the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir.

Taha, has said in a speech before a group of students that conflicts in the world in this unipolar age cannot be overcome through “slogans and emotionalism”.

This remark is seen as an implicit response to President Omer al-Bashir, who has been using his party, the ruling National Congress, forums to step up his opposition to the deployment of international troops in the region of Darfur, the London based Asharq Alawsat said..

There are increasing reports in Khartoum of great differences between President al-Bashir and his deputy, Taha, over the Darfur dossier, and to be precise, over the deployment of international troops in the troubled region. But National Congress Party officials vociferously reject such differences exist. Equally, Taha himself has in previous statements denied these differences existed.

“We must organize things and adopt well-planned policies to deal with the challenges facing the country,” Taha said.

Taha said the challenge for Sudan was how to create a better society and better life without these affecting our political free will in a unipolar age.

He said what was now happening in Lebanon made the slogans being chanted obsolete. He said what was happening there was a reflection of what was happening in many countries struggling to break free of hegemony.

Difference between al-Bashir and Taha emerged after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement when Taha wanted to appoint ministers loyal to the peace agreement, while Bashir appointed ministers hostile to the CPA.

(ST