Sudan Rebels, Opposition Party Form Political Alliance

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP)--Darfur's most active rebel group has joined a leading Sudanese opposition movement in calling for democracy in the country and a transitional government until next year's presidential election.

The Justice and Equality Movement, or JEM, signed an accord with the opposition Umma party of former prime minister Sadeq al-Mahdi Wednesday.

They pledged "to work for a united democratic and federal Sudan; a Sudan that is based on citizenship rights, respect," according to the text obtained by AFP Friday.

According to a peace deal signed in 2005 to end a decades-long civil war between north and south Sudan, the mandate of President Omar al-Bashir's national unity government ends next week.

Both parties are calling for a transitional government to be formed until presidential and legislative elections scheduled for April.

They "concur that democratic choice constitutes the only legitimate means for peaceful change of governments," the text said.

Several opposition parties have demanded the formation of a new government, something Bashir firmly rejects.

JEM and Umma said they want to see peace across Sudan, including in the western war-torn region of Darfur, before the elections.

The U.N. says up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes since ethnic minority rebels in Darfur rose up against the Arab-dominated regime in Khartoum in February 2003.

Sudan's government says 10,000 have been killed.

The goal is "to seek out all other political parties in order to come to a common ground," JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam told AFP, adding that his group did not agree with all Umma positions but shared "some common points."

Bashir, together with tribal leader Ali Kosheib and politician Ahmed Harun, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

"The others should go to the ICC... but not President Bashir. It will affect the stability of the country," said Umma vice president Fadlallah Burma Nassir of one of his party's main differences with JEM which wants Bashir tried.

Sudan's last general election in April 1986 saw victory for the Umma party of Sadiq al-Mahdi, whose government was overthrown in the 1989 coup that brought Bashir to power.

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