Opposition alliance to withdraw its forces from east Sudan

ASMARA, Feb 11, 2005 (Al-Shari al-Siyasi) — Al-Shari al-Siyasi has learnt from its own sources that an agreement has been reached on the withdrawal of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forces from Al-Qiran town in Hamashkoreb area following a political settlement on the dossier of the eastern region.

Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki (R) receives the Chairman of the Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani in his office, on Friday, February 4, 2005. (ERINA).

Sources of Al-Shari al-Siyasi further say that the withdrawal of the NDA forces from Hameshkoreb comes as part of a comprehensive arrangement made to cool down the hot beds of tension in the eastern Sudan.

In the same vein, Al-Shari al-Siyasi has learnt that the NDA leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani has held talks with the Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki to discuss how to eliminate the political tension between Khartoum and Asmara.

During the meeting, the sources say, President Afewerki expressed his anger over Khartoum government for hosting the summit of the Eritrean factions opposed to the his regime, which was held in Khartoum recently.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.