Sudanese opposition meeting delayed until Wednesday

ASMARA, July 11 (AFP) — A meeting of Sudanese groups opposed to the Khartoum government will take place here on Wednesday, two days later than scheduled, to ensure that southern rebel leader John Garang can attend, organizers said Sunday.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the main coalition of political opposition groups, said the delay of the Asmara meeting was due to Garang’s participation in ongoing peace talks to end 21 years of conflict between Khartoum and his SPLM/A (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army) led by Garang.

Garang’s SPLM/A and Khartoum are onto their penultimate round of talks in the northwestern Kenyan town of Naivasha, aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire.

Negotiations to end Africa’s longest civil war have been ongoing since July 2002 under the mediation of Kenya.

They do not cover a separate conflict raging in western Sudan region of Darfur, which erupted in February 2003 when black African rebel groups rose up against the same Sudanese government.

One of the two main rebel groups active in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement (MLS), will also participate in the Asmara meeting of opposants.

More than 25 people are expected to attend, including the SPLM/A delegation, NDA leader Muhammad Uthman al Mirghani and members of the Unionist Democratic Party (UDP), said NDA leadership council member Shafie Khidir.