KHARTOUM 

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said Saturday that next year's parliamentary elections will not be postponed.

Addressing attendees at the inaugural session of the consultative council of his ruling National Congress Party, al-Bashir said he wants to initiate dialogue with his country's political forces with the aim of reaching agreement before the elections.

"We do not expect all political forces to participate [in the dialogue], but most of them," al-Bashir said.

He added that his party was making contacts with other political forces to settle on an appropriate mechanism for dialogue.

Sudan has remained on edge since the government announced a raft of austerity measures last September – including a major reduction of fuel subsidies – aimed at reining in a widening budget deficit and curbing government spending.

The controversial measures had triggered mass protests in several Sudanese cities.

In late January, al-Bashir presented a reform plan to his government partners.

The opposition, however, has set some conditions for starting dialogue, including the abolition of laws that restrict personal freedoms; release of political detainees; opening investigations into the killing of anti-austerity protesters; and open unconditional talks with the country's various regional militant groups.

By Mohamed al-Khatem

englishnews@aa.com.tr