Bashir: All Sudan political prisoners to be freed

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Monday that he will release all political detainees, as tensions ease following recent agreements with South Sudan. "Today, we announce a decision to free all the political prisoners and renew our commitment to all political powers about dialogue," Bashir said in a speech opening a new session of parliament. "We confirm we will continue our communication with all political and social powers without excluding anyone, including those who are armed, for a national dialogue which will bring a solution to all the issues," the president said. His statement elaborated on an offer made last week by Vice President Ali Osman Taha, who reached out to rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as to opposition political parties, whom he invited to join a constitutional dialogue. The alliance of opposition parties and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) rejected the vice president's call. Eight days ago, the leader of the alliance, Farouk Abu Issa, said three opposition members were detained after police forcibly dispersed a rally demanding the release of six other regime opponents held for several weeks. The six were detained for their connection with a conference in Kampala, Uganda, which led to a charter for toppling Bashir's 24-year regime. US-based Human Rights Watch in February said the six should be charged or released. At a rare news conference last week, Vice President Taha suggested that as relations with South Sudan improve, there is a less restrictive political atmosphere within Sudan. But Issa said his call for dialogue was "the same line." Bashir Adam Rahma, foreign relations secretary of the Popular Congress opposition party, said the government "junta" has a history of calling for dialogue "on their own terms." Sudan needs a new constitution to replace the 2005 document based on a peace agreement which ended a 23-year civil war and led to South Sudan's separation in July 2011. Singling out the SPLM-N chairman and his deputy, Taha called on "opposition parties and Malik Agar and Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu to take part in writing the new constitution". Agar told AFP that Taha had misled the public by inviting rebels for talks. The rebel chief instead called for dialogue under a UN Security Council resolution. Bashir's regime had long rejected negotiations with the insurgents who have been fighting for almost two years in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.