KHARTOUM

Sudan’s ruling Military Transitional Council (MTC) says it has reached agreement with the opposition Freedom and Change alliance on the “structures of governance” and “transitional authority”.

MTC spokesman Shams al-Din al-Kabbashi made the assertion following a Monday meeting with opposition leaders.

Describing the meeting as “positive”, al-Kabbashi said in a statement that both sides had agreed on “the structures of governance during the transitional period”.

Additional meetings, he added, would be held Tuesday to discuss the duration of the transitional period.

On April 11, the Sudanese army announced the “removal” of President Omar al-Bashir following months of popular protest against his 30-year rule.

The MTC is now overseeing a two-year “transitional period” during which it has pledged to hold free presidential elections.

But the opposition, led by the Freedom and Change alliance, has continued to demand that the MTC hand over power -- at the earliest possible date -- to a civilian authority.

Freedom and Change leader Taha Osman Ishaq, for his part, confirmed that Monday’s meeting had witnessed a significant breakthrough.

“We agreed with the MTC on the structure and powers of the three branches of government,” Ishaq told reporters without elaborating.

The two sides resumed negotiations on Monday morning after talks broke down last week amid mutual recriminations and accusations of foot-dragging.