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Reshuffle eases Khartoum crisis Sudan's president in crisis bid
(10 minutes later)
Sudan's president has reshuffled his cabinet to try to resolve a political crisis created when former southern rebels pulled out of the coalition.Sudan's president has reshuffled his cabinet to try to resolve a political crisis created when former southern rebels pulled out of the coalition.
The reshuffle came after Omar al-Bashir's first talks with southern leaders since the last week's walkout. The reshuffle came after Omar al-Bashir's first talks with southern leaders since last week's walkout.
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) members quit the cabinet last Thursday, complaining key elements of a 2005 peace deal were being ignored.The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) members quit the cabinet last Thursday, complaining key elements of a 2005 peace deal were being ignored.
The group responded to the reshuffle by saying it would rejoin the government. But the group says it will not rejoin government until all demands are met.
There had been fears that the withdrawal could have jeopardised the 2005 deal that ended the 21-year north-south civil war. As well as requesting a cabinet reshuffle, the SPLM also wants boundary demarcations and the redeployment of northern troops from the south to be implemented.
Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the SPLM controls the southern regional government and participates in the national government in Khartoum. There have been fears that the crisis could jeopardise the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the 21-year north-south civil war.
Some 1.5 million people died in Sudan's conflict - Africa's longest civil war - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Animist and Christian south before the CPA was agreed. Under the deal, the SPLM controls the southern regional government and participates in the national government in Khartoum.
After meeting Mr Bashir on Tuesday, Sudan Vice-President Riak Machar told the BBC that parts of the CPA that had not been implemented included:
  • The redeployment of northern troops from the south, especially from Unity and Upper Nile states
  • Issues of oil management and marketing
  • The final border demarcation which means the division of oil wealth cannot be completed
  • Issues to pave the way for a census in 2011, when the south could decide to split from the north.
Mr Riak said he believed that if there was the political will, the crisis could be resolved.
"I believe the president has the political will to do so - it can take half-an-hour to do it by the stroke of a pen," he said.
Some 1.5m people died in Sudan's conflict - Africa's longest civil war - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Animist and Christian south before the CPA was agreed.