Sudanese president deems armed group leaders as "dreamers"

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday described leaders of the rebel groups fighting the government in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions as "dreamers."

"The victories achieved by the army in Darfur have turned the rebels' dream of an uprising against the government into a new setback for the dreamers who are running their battle against the homeland from Paris hotels," said al-Bashir when addressing a conference for Sudan's Workers Union.

Al-Bashir reiterated his government's endeavor to achieve a lasting peace in all parts of Sudan, saying "the government's signing of the road-map is a message that has affirmed to the world its belief in peace option and renunciation of war and fighting."

Last March, the Sudanese government unilaterally signed a road-map agreement backed by the African Union, stipulating arrangements related to cease-fire in Darfur, the Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions, engaging in a political process and involving the armed groups in the national dialogue conference.

However, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) together with the opposition Umma Party, led by Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, declined to sign the road-map.

The SPLM/northern sector and the armed groups in Darfur insist that a preparatory conference be held to bring together all the Sudanese political forces to agree on procedures to initiate an equitable dialogue with the government, a demand that the Sudanese government rejects. Endit