Kufuor tours voting centres in Khartoum, Omdruman

Accra, April 11, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, leading the African Union (AU) Observer Mission in Sudan, on Sunday toured some voting centres in Khartoum, the country's capital city and Omdruman, its largest city.

He is at the head of a 50-member AU Observer team for the first elections in Sudan in 25 years.

These were contained in a statement signed by Mr. Frank Agyekum, Spokesperson for former President Kufuor, made available to GNA in Accra on Sunday.

It said that at all the 10 polling centres Former President Kufuor visited, voting was going on peacefully and orderly as voters waited patiently for their turn and party agents, the media and security personnel were present.

The statement said the electoral officers indicated that voting materials had arrived on time although at one centre, ballot papers were being off-loaded at the time of the visit, about two hours after the official opening of voting.

It said the Former President had held meetings with leaders of all the observer mission, including, Mr. Jimmy Carter of the Carter Centre and General Scott Graton, the US Special Envoy to Sudan, and Mr Torben Brylle, the EU Special representative to Sudan.

The statement indicated that Former President Kufuor has also met with President Tabo Mbeke, former South African President, who is Chair of the AU High Level Implementation Team on Sudan, and Mr Ibrahim Gambari, head of the United Nations Mission in Darfour, Sudan.

Nine parties, including the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) led by incumbent President of Sudan Omar Hassan al-Bashir are contesting the three-day elections to elect a President, a 450-member National Assembly and a myriad of gubernatorial, parliamentary and other executive positions.

Some of the leading opposition parties, including the Southern People's Liberation Movement, the UMMA Party and the Communist Party have either boycotted the entirely or in part.

A large number of international observers, including the Carter Centre, the European Union, and the Arab League are observing the elections.