Mahdi stresses importance of Egypt’s role in settling Sudan’s crisis

KHARTOUM, Nov 23, 2003 (MENA) — Former Sudanese premier and leader of Ummah party Sadiq al-Mahdi returned home Sunday following a visit to Egypt.

In pre-departure statements in Cairo, Al-Mahdi stressed the importance of Egypt’s role in reaching a political settlement to the Sudanese problem and urged Egyptian officials to participate in negotiations seeking a comprehensive and just solution to Sudan crisis.

He said he will work for implementing a proposal to set up a Sudanese national council to take part in the current talks between the government of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). He reasserted the need for Egypt’s and Libya’s participation in the negotiations as they had sponsored an initiative on settling the problem.

Al-Mahdi ruled out the possibility of reaching an agreement between the Sudanese government and SPLM before the end of the current year. He expected an accord to be clinched in the first half of 2004, noting that pending problems between the two sides at present are more than 15 ones.