Sudanese opposition leader urges South Sudan to expand mediation team

JUBA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese opposition leader on Tuesday urged South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to include three key regional nations in his peace mediation team as an effort to restore stability in its northern neighbor, Sudan.

Sudan Liberation Movement /Army, Suliman Arcua Minnawi, told journalists after holding talks with President Salva Kiir in Juba, that there is a need to include Chad, Ethiopia and Egypt in the Juba's mediation role.

"We welcome President Salva Kiir to mediate peace talks between the new transitional government and several rebel groups," said Arcua.

Tut Gatluak, presidential adviser on security affairs, reiterated president Kiir's continued support to bring peace to Sudan, adding that all the Sudan's opposition groups are committed to ending the ongoing political turmoil.

He observed that they have accepted peace as they make efforts to work collectively with the leadership of the Transitional Military Council and the Freedom and Change movement.

"We are committed toward finding a new political era in Sudan, the issue of regional inclusivity is important in resolving political differences," Gatluak said.

He added that the Sudanese government and opposition groups have accepted Juba's role to mediate the talks, which is expected to start soon.

Juba and Khartoum previously accused each other of harboring rebel elements in their territories, but relations between the two seem to be improving since Khartoum successfully mediated the new peace deal aimed at ending almost five years of civil unrest in the young republic.