January 1, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani defended his party’s decision to join the cabinet saying that it was necessary to save the country.

In prepared remarks read out to supporters by his son Ja’afar, on Sudan’s 56th anniversary of independence, al-Mirghani said that ’loud’ voices seeking to label the DUP as a ’betrayer’ will not succeed in creating confusion within the party ranks.

Al-Mirghani said that their agreement with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to join the government would help to begin a consensus and enforce democratic transformation, saving the country from unilateralism while moving away from the sad stage of ’cracks and fissures’, towards unity.

The DUP chief called for an end to the military conflicts in Blue Nile and South Kordofan as well as a resumption of normal relations with the newly established Republic of South Sudan.

However the decision of the DUP to join the ’broad-base’ government formed last month has triggered a party crisis, which has seen many DUP members tendering their resignations and others protesting in their home areas.

There were limited clashes between those opposing the DUP participation, and al-Mirghani’s supporters at the independence day celebrations, but these were eventually contained.

In his prepared remarks, Al-Mirghani warned against religious, racial and political extremism. He praised the role played by Sufism, political parties and national unions in integrating the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-racial components of the society into a national melting pot with a common denominator, unity. However the DUP chief noted that the weakening of this aspect paved the way for the emergence of extremism.

Party officials told the Sudan Tribune that Al-Mirghani’s absence at the celebrations today were explained by a sudden illness. They said that it was likely that he would be traveling abroad in the coming days.

(ST)