SPLM Boycotts Polls
In North Sudan
South
Sudan's main party has said it will boycott this week's
elections in most of northern Sudan, citing voting
irregularities and security fears.
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which has already
withdrawn its candidate from the presidential poll, said it
would not participate in the parliamentary and municipal polls
in thirteen of the fifteen northern states.
First multi party polls
The elections, beginning on Sunday, are supposed to be
Sudan's first multi-party vote since 1986.
The SPLM has however said it would still contest the elections
in its southern stronghold, as well as in the northern states of
Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
SPLM secretary general, Pagan Amum, said the partial boycott was
to protest about insecurity in war-torn Darfur and alleged
election rigging.
SPLM is serving in a national coalition with President Omar
Hassan Al-Bashir, after joining a unity government in 2005, as
part of a peace deal ending a two-decade civil war.
Votes to go ahead
Many opposition parties have decided to partially or totally
boycott the elections for the same reasons, but one major
opposition party, Umma, is still deciding whether or not to
participate.
Earlier on Tuesday, a senior official of the Sudan's National
Elections Commission, Hadi Mohammed said the vote would go ahead
as planned on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of President Bashir,
who is wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur, insists the
elections will be fair.
Analyst says with no strong challenger, Mr. Bashir, who seized
power in a bloodless coup in 1989, looks set for a comfortable
win.
BBC/Williams/Yinka
