Sudan former PM defends agreement with ruling party
May 27, 2008 (KHARTOUM) —Former Sudanese Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Umma party Sadiq al-Mahdi called his agreement with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) a “first step towards comprehensive national conference”.
“They [SCP] did not understand the agreement. The religious principles incorporated in the agreement apply to all religions” Al-Mahdi told Sudan Tribune by phone from Khartoum.
“The specific clause on the distinct parts of Shari’a law [contained in the agreement] applies to Muslims only. As far as September 1983 Islamic laws we were strongly against it” he said.
The Umma party and NCP signed an agreement last week better known as “National Reconciliation Agreement” which largely outlines a number of fundamental principles that both sides share the same views on.
Al-Mahdi said the principles set forth in the agreement were announced three years ago on his seventieth birthday.
The opposition leader also denied that the accord opens door for an alliance between the Umma party and NCP.
“Any talk of an alliance with the NCP is not true. We are the only political party in the country that is not part of the government” Al-Mahdi said.
“All other parties are either part of the legislative or the executive branch” he added.
The former prime minister said that the election modalities outlined in the agreement are open for negotiations and “are not final”.
“This agreement protects the right of other political parties and all issues can be raised in a nation conference” he added.
Al-Mahdi, ousted as prime minister in a bloodless military coup in 1989 by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the government.
(ST)