Military

DATE=08/21/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-293252

TITLE=SUDAN / OPPOSITION (L-O)

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The reorganization of Sudan's cabinet on Monday brought in eight members of a breakaway faction of the country's main opposition party. The defections have created a furor in Sudanese politics as we here in this report from Greg LaMotte in our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: Officials of Sudan's main opposition party say they are outraged that eight members defied the party leadership and joined the cabinet of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Omar el-Nour el-Dayem is the deputy chairman of the Umma Party. He says the eight-people who left Umma did so in violation of the party's principles.

/// EL DAYEM ACT EST IN ARABIC THEN FADE UNDER ///

Mr. el-Nour el-Dayem says the defections are impeding the development of democracy, freedom, and human rights in Sudan. Although, he says, he does not expect the departure of the eight to affect the future of the Umma party.

President al-Bashir has long attempted to broaden his cabinet, but had been unable to convince opposition members to join his coalition. The eight members were officially sworn in Tuesday.

Mubarak al-Fadil al-Mahdi was given five positions in the new cabinet including assistant to the president. He told V-O-A his decision to join the government was not an abandonment of the Umma Party. He says he is bringing Umma Party values into the government.

/// AL-MAHDI ACT ESTBALISH IN ARABIC THEN FADE UNDER ///

Mr. al-Mahdi says his participation will help spread peace and build democracy in the country. He says that by being part of the government he will also help ensure stability and bring an end to the conflict the country has experienced since its independence.

Meanwhile, a second round of peace talks between the government and the rebels continues in Kenya. It is aimed at ending Sudan's 19-year civil war that has claimed as many as two-million lives.

Sudanese rebels in mostly animist and Christian south have been fighting for greater autonomy from the mainly Muslim north and want exemption from Islamic law that has been applied nationwide. During the first round of peace-talks in July the government conceded to both demands and signed a deal that will allow southerners the right to secede from the north in six-years. (SIGNED)

NEB/GL/LDJ/RAE