Sudan intends to release “all political prisoners”

KHARTOUM, Jan 17, 2005 (Al-Ayyam) — The government and the ruling National Congress party have initiated procedures of holding talks on lifting of the state of emergency and release of all political prisoners including the chairman of the opposition Popular National Congress (PNC), Hassan Al-Turabi, who is currently detained in Kobar prison.

Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told journalists yesterday that the government has drawn up a strategy which is in line with the current peace period. He further said the government wants to reach a comprehensive accord which does not sideline anyone “be he a member of the PNC or any other opposition inside or outside Sudan.” “We hope no one will remain in Sudanese prisons except criminals and the unjust,” he went on to say.

Mustafa said the government was striving the much it could to bring about change with the realization of an accord. An accord which will not isolate anyone “except those who refuse and those who will refuse will be standing against peace agreements.”

He stressed that the government is striving to come up with a programme which will not sideline anyone “and we want to enter a new period in which the rule of law prevails and which has healthy competition based on peace and denunciation of violence.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.