Sudan Frees 6 Opposition Leaders

Sudanese authorities on Tuesday released six leading members of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party, one day after freeing the party's leader.



"Six party leaders have been released from their prison in Al-Abyad city," party spokesman Bakri Youssef told Anadolu Agency.



On Monday, Sudanese authorities released party leader Ibrahim al-Sheikh following three months of detention.



Last week, chief African mediator Thabo Mbeki said that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir had ordered al-Sheikh's release.



Al-Sheikh was detained in June for criticizing the conduct of Sudanese intelligence agencies in the war against rebels in Sudan's western Darfur region.



Another opposition leader, former prime minister Al-Sadek al-Mahdi, was released from prisonin June – one month after he was arrested for similar reasons.



Sudan remains plagued by rifts and conflict between the army and various rebel movements – especially in the country's restive southern and western regions – along with a deteriorating economy.



Earlier this month, Sudanese opposition parties – both those operating at home and those based abroad – agreed to enter talks with the government under a single umbrella.



The agreement, sponsored by Mbeki, was signed in Addis Ababa by representatives of Sudan-based opposition parties and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, an umbrella group of Sudanese parties whose leaders are based overseas.



By Nabil Selim



englishnews@.aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Hartum