Sudanese president says army has achieved decisive victories

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday said the Sudanese army has achieved decisive victories in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions.

Addressing the Sudanese National Assembly (parliament), al-Bashir praised the Sudanese armed forces and other military bodies for ending rebellion in all regions around the country.

He vowed to collect the arms from the groups and individuals in all parts of the country so that peace and stability would prevail.

The Sudanese president reiterated his country's willingness to establish normal ties with the international community, praising Khartoum's relations with China, Russia, India, Brazil and Turkey.

In the meantime, al-Bashir expressed his government's commitment to the choice of the Darfur people who have recently voted in the region's administrative status referendum.

"Whatever the result of the referendum, we are committed to the option of the Darfur people," he said.

The Sudanese army is fighting rebel groups in the Darfur region and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states on the border with South Sudan.

Recently, the Sudanese army said it had regained control of the last stronghold of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)/Abdul-Wahid Mohamed Nur faction at the strategic Jebel Marra area in Central Darfur State. Endit