Bashir says opposition must sign deal on interim government

President Umar al-Bashir said on Monday that opposition parties would be required to enter into a "political agreement" with the government before being permitted to join a transitional administration aimed at bringing an end to the country's 18-year civil war, AFP reported. Bashir was quoted by AFP as telling a meeting of student members of his ruling National Congress party: "We are not going to object to participation in the government by any political party that agrees with us, and we are prepared to admit such a party to the council of ministers or any other position."

The Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative, recently accepted by the Sudanese government and a number of opposition and rebel groups, provides for an interim government in which all political forces will be represented. However, Bashir suggested that some opposition groups currently based in Cairo and Asmara could be excluded from such a government: "We will never hand it [power] over to those residing abroad," he was quoted as saying.