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DATE=10/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240313
TITLE=SUDAN / OPPOSITION (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT REPORTEDLY HAS INVITED OPPOSITION
LEADERS BACK TO SUDAN TO SET UP POLITICAL GROUPS.  LISA BRYANT 
REPORTS FROM CAIRO.
TEXT:  A SUDANESE NEWSPAPER, AL-RAI AL-AM, REPORTS THAT THE 
SPEAKER OF SUDAN'S PARLIAMENT, HASSAN TURABI, SAYS OPPOSITION 
LEADERS ARE WELCOME BACK TO THE COUNTRY.
THE REPORT COMES AS SUDAN'S PARLIAMENT PREPARES TO DEBATE A 
PROPOSAL ALLOWING THE FORMATION OF POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE NEWSPAPER REPORTED MR. TURABI SAID THAT EVEN SUDAN'S MAIN 
OPPOSITION LEADERS -- FORMER PRIME MINISTER SADIQ EL-MAHDI AND 
MOHAMMED OSMAN AL-MIRGANI, WHO NOW HEADS A COALITION OF SUDANESE 
OPPOSITION GROUPS -- WOULD BE ALLOWED BACK.
BUT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A FROM HIS HOME IN CAIRO, MR. 
EL-MAHDI SAID HE WOULD  NOT  ACCEPT AN INVITATION TO RETURN, EVEN
IF IT WERE MADE OFFICIALLY.
                     ///  EL-MAHDI ACT  ///
         THE ONLY KEY TO RESOLVE SUDAN'S PROBLEMS IS AN ALL 
         COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS THE TWO 
         BASIC ISSUES AND I THINK THE AGREEMENT ON THESE TWO 
         BASIC ISSUES WILL OPEN THE WAY FOR PEACE AND STABILITY 
         IN SUDAN. OTHERWISE ALL ONE-SIDED EFFORTS BY THE 
         GOVERNMENT WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
MR. EL-MAHDI'S "TWO BASIC ISSUES" ARE A PEACE AGREEMENT TO END 
SUDAN'S LONG CIVIL WAR AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT HE CALLS A 
LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT.
BUT THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER ALSO SAID THE REPORTED INVITATION 
MAY REFLECT MODERATE ELEMENTS IN THE SUDANESE ADMINISTRATION THAT
REALIZE SUDAN'S CIVIL WAR MUST END. 
                     ///  EL-MAHDI ACT  ///
         WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY THE CONVICTIONS 
         THROUGH AND WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE 
         RESERVATIONS OF THE HAWKS, I CAN'T SAY. BUT SUCH IDEAS 
         DO EXIST, WE BELIEVE, IN THE PRESENT SUDAN REGIME.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
MEANWHILE, SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT AND REBEL FORCES RECENTLY AGREED ON
A THREE-MONTH CEASE FIRE EXTENSION IN PART OF SOUTHERN SUDAN, 
WHERE PEOPLE ARE FACING SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/JWH
16-Oct-98 1:59 PM EDT (1759 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.