January 1, 2012 (KHARTOUM) - The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) announced its participation in a meeting called by the alliance of rebel groups, Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) in the Ugandan capital Kampala, and reiterated its commitment to non-violent political struggle to bring change in Sudan.

The largest opposition party says peaceful struggle is the only way to ensure a democratic transition in the country and to maintain its integrity. It also rejects calls for an "armed uprising" saying it would threaten Sudan’s unity and regional stability.

However, the NUP, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) and the Popular Congress Party of Hassan Al-Turabi signed on 14 November a joint communiqué in London where they agreed on the need to unite their efforts to peacefully bring down the regime.

In a statement released in Khartoum on Tuesday the Umma party said it will take part in the first joint meeting between the political opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and armed groups including SPLM-N, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and two factions of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Minni Minnawi.

"We welcome all national dialogue and look forward to this meeting to discuss seriously major national issues and to reach a national agreement achieving a just peace and full democratic change", says the opposition party.

"This agreement should be broadened to include all forces and segments of the Sudanese society, political union, student and youth, women and civil society forces", further added the statement.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) declined the NUP call for the formation of a national government and the organization of a conference including the rebel groups saying there is a legitimate government elected in April 2010.

Besides, their rejection of conciliation with the regime, the rebel groups say the leaders of the Sudanese should be held responsible of war crimes committed in Darfur and South Kordofan and refuse any compromise with the regime.

Khartoum refuses to negotiate with the SPLM-N in a process led by an African mediation demanding that the rebels should lay down their arms and accept to negotiate on the basis of a protocol related to the Two Area included in an agreement signed in January 2005 with the SPLM.

(ST)