Consultations underway for Al-Turabi-Garang’s meeting, rebels’ spokesman

By Al-Sahafah daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Nov. 24, 2003 — The [rebel] Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM] has said consultations with the [Al-Turabi’s opposition] Popular National Congress [PNC] are still going on regarding the meeting to be held between their respective leaders Dr John Garang and Dr Hasan al- Turabi. SPLM also has revealed that it extended an invitation to the Libyan leader’s son, Sayf-al-Islam Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi, to visit south [Sudan].

SPLM Spokesman Yasir Arman said the expected meeting between Garang and Al-Turabi was still on and that consultations were underway to fix the date and the venue.

Meanwhile, Arman, who is currently visiting Algeria with a delegation led by SPLM Deputy Chairman Salva Kiir, described the visit, which included Cairo [Egypt] and Tripoli [Libya], as successful. He said the Libyan leader’s son, Sayf-al-Islam, who is the chairman of Al-Qadhafi’s charity organization had accepted to visit southern Sudan following an invitation from the Movement.

Sayf-al-Islam would discuss possibilities of extending humanitarian assistance to southern Sudan. Arman said Sayf-al- Islam’s visit and the coming of the Libyan Islamic Da’wah organization to Sudan would add Arab and Islamic dimensions to the aid assistance meant for the affected areas.

Arman said SPLM’s extensive tours in 15 Arab and African countries, including SPLM leader’s visit to the USA, come in the context of preparations for the next round of peace talks.

BBC Monitoring Middle East