Sudanese President
Resigns As Commander In Chief Of Army
President
Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan has retired as commander-in-chief
of the army.
A report said the resignation, on Monday, was a procedural move
before the country’s first multi-party elections in 24 years.
State news agency, SUNA said, ’’ President Omar Hassan al-Bashir
today issued a decree retiring (himself as) the
commander-in-chief of the armed forces.’’ It mentioned no
replacement.
Official nominations for the April elections will begin on
Tuesday and analysts say Bashir was trying to distance himself
from his military past before his nomination by the dominant
National Congress Party (NCP).
Elections to parliament and state governorships will be held at
the same time as the presidential vote.
The elections precede a referendum in southern Sudan on January
9, 2011 on whether to secede from the north.
REUTERS/Yinka
