Egyptian-Sudanese presidential summit kicks off in Cairo

CAIRO, Jan 18, 2004 (Xinhua) — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Sudanese counterpart Omar el-Bashir began their summit at noon on Sunday, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported.

The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Sudanese peace process, Mideast issues and ways to boost bilateral ties, the report said.

The Sudanese president arrived here earlier in the day for a one-day brief visit.

Bashir’s visit to Egypt came at a time when hope for reaching a comprehensive peace deal between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) looms in the wake of an agreement signed between the two sides on wealth sharing on Jan. 7.

The Sudanese government and the SPLA scored a breakthrough in peace in July 2002, when they agreed on a referendum on southern independence at the end of a six-year transition, but disputes on oil and power sharing as well as territories have hindered further progress.