March 2, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The spokesman of the National Conesus Forces (NCF) Kamal Omer disclosed that members of the opposition coalition have agreed to strengthen unity among its ranks under the common goal of toppling the regime.

FILE PHOTO - Leaders of Sudan’s opposition colaition in a picture taken in 2012 (ST)

In press statements, Omer disclosed that the Popular Congress Party (PCP) suggested a code of honour be signed by the opposition parties to preserve the coalition and prevent the members from criticising each other through the media.

The NCF spokesperson said that members of the opposition alliance should discuss any issues they have with each other within the domain of the coalition.

The National Umma Party (NUP) led by Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi has in recent months stepped up his public bashing of the NCF and his insistence that the latter is restructured.

His statements angered other opposition parties who accuse him of being obscure about his position regarding the government dominated by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Al-Mahdi has said that he does not want to bring down the regime but rather reform it putting him at odds with other opposition groups.

The NCF has called on the NUP chief to make a written apology for his past criticism of the alliance.

In a related issue, Omer said that the NCF will review the "New Dawn" charter signed last January between rebels and opposition groups to see what changes can be made and attach the proposed interim constitution.

Some of the charter’s signatories including the NUP, PCP and the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) later distanced themselves from the deal saying they were rushed into it and expressed reservations on some of its clauses relating to role of religion and reforming the state’s institutions.

From the start the charter’s stated goal of removing the regime hit a roadblock over how to do it with rebels saying that force should be one of the means to achieve it and opposition groups saying they prefer to stick to peaceful ways.

"We are with the regime change, but through democratic and peaceful means through the street or a popular revolution" the NCF spokesman said.

He denied Khartoum’s accusations that they are plotting to bring the regime down in alliance with rebels and external players.

(ST)