Former Sudan PM calls for regime to step down

Leader of Umma Party, former Sudan PM Sadiq al-Mahdi addressed his supporters asking them to be "ready for the draft for a new regime" in Sudan. In his long speech held Saturday evening, Mahdi criticised the current regime and demanded it to step down after 25 years in power leaving political, economic and security failures. He threw the responsibility of what happened and still going on in the country over the ruling regime. He said that Sudan was "once united" but is now became divided with six war fronts. Mahdi added: "Sudan's economy has deteriorated, living conditions of people have worsened and the outside world has imposed siege over it." He welcomed the visit of the South Sudan Vice President Dr Riek Machar to Khartoum on Sunday, demanding "good neighbourhood relations with South Sudan, based on common interest and benefits." Mahdi talked about his relations with other opposition movements in his country, and admitted conflicts and differences between them - which he said they are working on resolving. He addressed Sudanese people by saying that "change using force does not work" but called for a strong popular uprising to overthrow the regime or the setting of a round table to discuss the country's issues and resolve them. He emphasised the role of political movements in Egypt and and said that the current polarisation is "dangerous for Egypt and its revolution gains" adding that the huge marches indicate the "presence of a crisis." Mahdi stressed that all parties should "work together to overcome the crisis."