Sudan’s ruling TMC rejects Ethiopian proposal on crisis

KHARTOUM

Sudan’s ruling military council has rejected the Ethiopian initiative to resolve the crisis between civilians and military in Sudan, the council’s spokesman announced on Sunday.

Addressing a news conference in capital Khartoum, Shams Aldin Kabashi, spokesman for Transitional Military Council (TMC), said the Ethiopian initiative is “attempting to impose a specific proposal” on rival sides in Sudan.

"Sudan is not accepting any external intervention which tries to impose any kind of solutions without consultations," Kabashi said.

The Ethiopian initiative proposed formation of a sovereignty council composed of 15 members -- seven from military and seven civilians, in addition to an independent civilian to be appointed via consultation between the TMC and the opposition alliance.

On Saturday, the opposition alliance of the Forces of the Freedom and Change (FFC) accepted the Ethiopian initiative, considering it a suitable way to addressing the current standoff between the rivals in Sudan.

Nagi Alasm, spokesman for Sudanese Professional Association (SPA) -- which leads the protests in Sudan since last December -- told the reporters on Saturday that the opposition has accepted the Ethiopian initiative and conveyed its decision to the Ethiopian envoy.

TMC and FFC have stopped the talks since the government forces used violence to disperse the sit-in outside the army headquarters that led to the killing of more than 100 protesters.