KHARTOUM
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday called on parliament to make constitutional amendments in order to "streamline the process of government decentralization."
In a speech before Sudanese parliament, al-Bashir called on MPs to amend Sudan's national charter "to allow the Sudanese people to have a say in managing their own affairs."
Al-Bashir did not elaborate further.
Earlier this week, the Sudanese president told members of his ruling National Congress Party that officials should be chosen based on their "strength and trustworthiness" and not according to their tribal affiliations.
Al-Bashir's critics, meanwhile, say he is seeking constitutional authority to appoint the governors of Sudan's 18 states, who are traditionally chosen by elections in line with the Sudan's transitional constitution, adopted in 2005.
Sudan's ruling party on Saturday officially declared al-Bashir its candidate for upcoming presidential elections slated for April of next year.
Sudan's opposition had earlier said it would boycott the presidential elections, parliamentary elections and elections for state governors.
Al-Bashir in January invited opposition leaders for a national dialogue, but the latter turned down the invitation.
The opposition has made its participation in the dialogue conditional on the postponement of elections, the formation of a constitution-drafting committee and the holding of fair elections.
The Sudanese president has several times rejected the notion of postponing elections, saying this would lead to a constitutional vacuum.
Al-Bashir, 70, reached power in an Islamist-backed military coup in 1989. He was reelected in 2010 in polls largely boycotted by the opposition.
www.aa.com.tr/en
