Sudanese president inaugurates Tuti Bridge

March 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir inaugurated today a bridge linking the capital with the isolated island of Tuti, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles.

The suspension bridge of Tunti was built at a cost of 14.2 million dollars.

The Sudanese president used the opportunity to criticize the ICC prosecutor and the decision of its judges ordering his arrest. Al-Bshir also reaffirmed his determination to respond to the ICC indictment with more development projects.

In a speech to the resident of Tuti, Bashir pledged to implement many development projects in the island adding that conspiracies against Sudan have intensified since the advent of his “salvation” government.

He was alluding to the bloodless coup d’état organized by the National Islamic Front to bring him at the leadership of the country on June 30, 1989.

Conspiracies “intensified a little with the Salvation because they (the West) saw that the Salvation was doing things that hurt them;” he said.

Sudanese government said it would work to face the ICC decision against Bashir with development projects, resolution of Darfur conflict and the unification of the political internal front.

On day before the issuance of the arrest warrant, Bashir opened Merowe dam on the Nile about 350 km north of the capital Khartoum. The dam’s total capacity is 1.25 million kilowatt which doubles Sudan’s existing power supply.

The Sudanese president also travelled to twice to Darfur and took part in many rallies and demonstration to support him.

(ST)