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New party challenges Sudan's SPLM New party challenges Sudan's SPLM
(about 6 hours later)
South Sudan's ruling SPLM has accused former Foreign Minister Lam Akol of being used by the north after he left to set up his own party.South Sudan's ruling SPLM has accused former Foreign Minister Lam Akol of being used by the north after he left to set up his own party.
He accused the SPLM - which fought the north for 21 years - of failing to govern the south, which enjoys autonomy under a 2005 peace deal. He accused the SPLM - which fought the north for 22 years - of failing to govern the south, which enjoys autonomy under a 2005 peace deal.
Elections are due next year, with SPLM leader Salva Kiir expected to challenge President Omar al-Bashir.Elections are due next year, with SPLM leader Salva Kiir expected to challenge President Omar al-Bashir.
A senior SPLM official said Mr Bashir's party was trying to divide southerners.A senior SPLM official said Mr Bashir's party was trying to divide southerners.
Mr Akol said his party would be called SPLM-Democratic Change.Mr Akol said his party would be called SPLM-Democratic Change.
"We want clear answers: why did the SPLM [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] fail to govern South Sudan even though it had all the money and 70% of power," he told the BBC's Arabic Service."We want clear answers: why did the SPLM [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] fail to govern South Sudan even though it had all the money and 70% of power," he told the BBC's Arabic Service.
After the peace deal, he served as national foreign minister until 2007.After the peace deal, he served as national foreign minister until 2007.
Uneasy coalition
The BBC's Peter Martell in the South Sudan capital Juba says Mr Akol is a controversial figure and remains a potentially influential one.
Many are unhappy in the south with what they see as a lack of progress and development, as well as an upsurge in violence in recent months.
But he says those grievances however do not mean people will necessarily abandon the mainstream SPLM.
Our reporter also points out that the SPLM has been working to gather in other opposition parties in efforts to boost a coalition against Mr Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).
The north-south conflict cost an estimated 1.5 million lives and ended in 2005 with the setting up of an autonomous secular government in the south and an agreement to share the country's new oil revenues.The north-south conflict cost an estimated 1.5 million lives and ended in 2005 with the setting up of an autonomous secular government in the south and an agreement to share the country's new oil revenues.
Mr Bashir's National Congress Party and the SPLM - foes during the civil war - are in an uneasy coalition in the national government. The NCP and the SPLM - foes during the civil war - are in an uneasy coalition in the national government.
But the SPLM governs in the south, which is mainly Christian and animist, in contrast to the Muslim, Arab-speaking north.But the SPLM governs in the south, which is mainly Christian and animist, in contrast to the Muslim, Arab-speaking north.
In recent months, there have been numerous clashes between rival groups in the south which have killed several hundred people.In recent months, there have been numerous clashes between rival groups in the south which have killed several hundred people.