Sudan: 2 candidates unbanned
2010-02-08 20:04
Khartoum - A Sudanese court on Monday ruled in favour of two candidates who were banned from April's presidential election, including the first woman to aspire to the presidency in Africa's largest country.
High court judge Mahjub al-Amin al-Faki said a decision by the Sudanese electoral commission to ban Fatima Ahmed Abdelmahmud and Munir Sheikh ad-Din from the poll was invalid.
"The court invalidated the decision of the electoral commission and named me as a presidential candidate," Abdelmahmoud, the only female candidate contesting the poll, told AFP.
"It is a just and fair decision."
Following the court ruling, 12 candidates will contest the April election, including the incumbent President Omar al-Beshir.
One of his main rivals is former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, who Beshir ousted in a military coup 20 years ago and who now heads the influential Umma opposition party.
Umma is the main party in the north, alongside the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), while Beshir heads the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Election in April
Beshir's other major challenger is Yasser Arman, who is representing the ex-rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
In April, Sudan is to hold presidential, legislative and regional elections, its first multi-party polls since 1986.
The election campaign is due to begin next Saturday and end on April 8.
Polling will begin April 11 and results must be announced by April 18.
A second round is to be held on May 10 if no candidate wins a simple majority.
- SAPA