Sudan to release all political detainees

KHARTOUM - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday issued a decision to release all political detainees to prepare the atmosphere for national dialogue among political forces in the country.

"Today I declare my decision on releasing all the political detainees in the country," said al-Bashir when addressing the new session of the Sudanese National Assembly (parliament).

"We reiterate our commitment to prepare the atmosphere before all the political forces, and I call on them to get ready for a serious dialogue and find mechanisms to ensure the success of that dialogue," he added.

Al-Bashir further renewed his invitation for the Sudanese political forces and parties to hold a national dialogue that favors the national interest over any other consideration and work to find a comprehensive solution to all the issues in a manner that preserves the country's security and sets a stage for a consensus on a new constitution.

"We will press ahead with our contacts with the political forces without exclusion or exception including the groups which are carrying arms," al-Bashir stressed.

He said that Sudan would negotiate with the rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) /northern sector, who are fighting the central government at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.

"We have accepted to resume the dialogue concerning the issue of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan areas to find a fair solution in a manner that achieves the comprehensive and lasting peace at all parts of our country," added al-Bashir.

The Sudanese president, meanwhile, urged the rebels in Sudan's Darfur region to engage into a serious dialogue with the Sudanese government to bring an end to the fighting and resort to the sound of mind, praising Qatar's support for peace in Sudan.

As for the talks with the nascent South Sudan government, al- Bashir also reiterated Sudan government's commitment to implementing the cooperation agreement with South Sudan and working to achieve full normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries.

On March 8, Khartoum and Juba signed in the Ethiopia capital Addis Ababa a matrix deal of modality to implement the security arrangement between the two sides.

Sudan and South Sudan have already started withdrawing their forces from the joint border prior to establishing a safe demilitarized zone.