Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Sudanās Ruling Party Would Unite With SPLM

   Peter Clottey 24 May 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in full military dress, greets army
   officers  as  as  he visits the military hospital, in Khartoum, Sudan,
   Thursday  April  22,  2010.  The  White  House had said Sudan's recent
   elections  are  an  essential step in the country's peace efforts even
   though they did not meet international standards. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

   A  prominent  member of Sudanās dominant National Congress Party (NCP)
   told  VOA  the  NCP  is not opposed to seeing Salva Kiir, president of
   semi-autonomous southern Sudan, become first vice president in a unity
   government.

   Rabie  Abdulatti  Obeid  also  said  the  NCP  is committed to working
   alongside  the  Sudan  Peopleās  Liberation  Movement  (SPLM) to fully
   implement   the   remaining  provisions  of  the  Comprehensive  Peace
   Agreement (CPA).

   āThere is no other option but for the NCP or SPLM (not) to be far from
   each other for the rest of the period, which will complete the interim
   period  as  agreed upon in the CPA and as agreed in the constitution.Ā
   And,  the  implementation  of  the bending points of the CPA cannot be
   unless  there  is  partnership between the National Congress Party and
   the SPLM,ā he said.

   This  comes  after  local  media reported that Mr. Kiir will soon hold
   negotiations  with  President  Bashir  over  the  formation of a unity
   government.  It will be tasked with preparing the country ahead of the
   2011  referendum  which  will  give  residents  in  southern Sudan the
   opportunity to decide whether to be part of Sudan, or secede.

   Salva Kiir (l) and Presiunt Bashir (r) file

   NCP  official  Obeid  said  unity  of  purpose with the SPLM will help
   resolve problems the country faces.

   āThis  is  yet  a  partnership from the SPLM and the National Congress
   Party  to  confront  the coming challenges and to work together to for
   the  coming  referendum,  and  also  to  work  together  to make unity
   attractive.Ā   And,  this  unity  is  an item clearly mentioned in the
   Comprehensive Peace Agreement,ā Obeid said.

   In   Sudanās  recent  elections,  the  National  Electoral  Commission
   declared  Mr.  Bashir winner of the presidential election with over 60
   percent  of  the votes, while Salva Kiir won the presidential election
   in  the  semi-autonomous  southern  Sudan  with over 90 percent of the
   vote.

   As  stipulated  in  the  peace  accord, both men are scheduled to work
   closely  to  fully  implement  the  rest  of  the  provisions  of  the
   Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

   Obeid  said  the  NCP  will  not oppose Mr. Kiir from becoming Sudanās
   first vice president.

   āIf this partnership (is) agreed upon, I donāt think that there is any
   objection  from  the  National  Congress  Party Salva Kiir Mayardit as
   first vice president, and to give them the same percentage of the same
   power  and  ministries in the north as before. And, I think it will be
   very  easy for the National Congress Party to work with the SPLM, even
   more  than  what  happened  during  the period to the election,ā Obeid
   said.

   The CPA effectively ended over two decades of civil war in Sudan.

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