Sudan 'regrets' south leader's independence call

2009-11-02

Khartoum says call for regional independence contradicts peace deal between north, south.

KHARTOUM - The ruling Sudanese National Congress Party said on Sunday it "regrets" a southern leader's call for regional independence in an upcoming referendum, saying it contradicts a peace deal that ended a two-decade civil war.

"My understanding is that these remarks contradict the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, according to which priority must be given to unity," NCP official Mandour al-Mahdi said in a statement reported by official SUNA news agency.

On Saturday, southern leader Silva Kiir said south Sudanese will be "second class" citizens in a united Sudan if they do not vote for independence in the referendum set for 2011.

South north Sudan fought a two-decade civil war that ended in 2005 with a power sharing peace deal that included provisions for a general election in 2010 and a referendum on southern independence a year later.

Meanwhile, Sudanese people began on Sunday to register for the general election, the country's first in 24 years.

Due to be held in April, the ballot comes at a crucial time for Sudan.

"Voter registration has started across Sudan," the head of the elections commission, Al-Hadi Mohammed Ahmed, said.

Sudanese voters have a month to register for the polls and the authorities have set up both fixed and mobile registration centers across Africa's largest country.

"We have set up a calendar (to reach remote areas) and village (tribal) chiefs are aware" of the registration, said Ahmed.

Source: Middle East Online.
Link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=35432.