Sudanese opposition leader seeks Eritrea/Sudan reconciliation
Khartoum, 3 Oct
04 - The chairman of [opposition] National Democratic Alliance [NDA], Mr
Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani, arrived in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on
Thursday [30 October] on a visit aimed at pursuing efforts for improving
relations between Sudan and Eritrea so as to overcome tension between the two
countries. [Passage omitted]
Sources are very
close to Al-Mirghani, said the chairman of NDA was keen on normalizing
relations between Sudan and Eritrea in particular, and the rest of the
neighbouring countries in general, due to his belief that vital mutual
interests linking the two nations call for an end to tensions in these
relations.
Sources from
government indicated that Khartoum was not against normalizing relations with
Eritrea and knows well mutual interests linking the two countries. However,
Eritrean stances in the past period hindered improvement of bilateral relations
between the two countries.
Mr Al-Mirghani
met on Friday [1 October] the Eritrean president, Isayas Afewerki, and
discussed peace process in Sudan. During the meeting, Al-Mirghani called on
international quarters concerned with the Sudanese problem to stand by the
Sudanese people for the sake of Sudan's unity and stability.
Afewerki
reiterated his country's support for peace. He commended NDA's stand which aims
at realizing a comprehensive peaceful solution. [Passage omitted]
Source: Al-Ra'y
al-Amm, Khartoum, via BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; in Arabic 3 Oct 04