February 8, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A coalition of Sudanese opposition parties has voiced support for the ongoing protests in Egypt, saying that success in toppling the Egyptian regime represents “a victory to the Sudanese people.”

Scenes from Al-Tahrir square in Cairo where hundreds of thousands of Egyptians are protesting against the government of President Hosni Mubarak (BBC News)

Egypt has been engulfed in popular demonstrations against the 30-year rule of President Hosani Muabark and his National Democratic Party since 25 January.

President Mubarak announced he would not stand in elections when his current term expires in September this year but the protests continue unabated, demanding his immediate departure.

The National Consensus Forces (NCP), a clutch of anti-government groups including the National Umma Party of former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi and the Popular Congress Party of detained Islamist leader Hassan Al-Turabi, said on a press release seen by Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the NCF “stands in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution.”

The NCF called for immediate cessation of hostilities against the demonstrators, and said that the success of Egyptian people in taking their rights and freedoms by getting rid of the oppressive and corrupt regime is a victory for the people of Sudan.

Meanwhile, the Nasirist Democratic Unionist Party (NDUP), which stands for Arab nationalism and has a close affinity with Egypt, also issued a press release saying it stands in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution.

Sudanese youth inspired by the events in Egypt have tried to organize similar protests on January 30 but the protests were violently dispersed by police forces.

Sudan has been ruled since 1989 by President Al-Bashir and his Islamist government. In April 2010, president Al-Bashir’s National Congress Party won a landslide victory in general elections which were mired in reports of mass fraud.

(ST)