Sudan’s president vows to protect peace agreement

KHARTOUM, June 01, 2004 (dpa) — Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir pledged Tuesday to promote and safeguard the recently-signed peace pact and lead the Sudanese nation as responsibly as he did in the pre-peace period.

Addressing a political rally, al-Bashir said the signing of the three protocols was a courageous step, and came after several efforts in the processes of resolving 20 years of civil war between southern and northern Sudan.

Sudan’s government and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Kenya last week signed power-sharing agreements on the remaining issues of power sharing in the two contested areas of the Nuba Mountains and the southern Blue Nile, and the contested Abyei area.

Al-Bashir declared that the peace would enhance further the implementation of sharia – Islamic law – in the north. The government agreed in the talks to grant guarantees to non-Moslems living in the predominantly Moslem north.

Commenting on the post-peace period, al-Bashir said it would witness considerable development, elevation of poverty and promotion of services throughout Sudan.