The first opposition party to take advantage of Sudan's legalisation of political groups has unfurled its banners on Friday.

Streets in Khartoum were decked with posters and slogans of a breakaway faction of the Democratic Unionist Party, led by Sharif Zein-ul-Abdeen al-Hindi.

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has promised a new era of freedom in Sudan.

He said the registration of parties would be supervised by a newly-formed constitutional court and would not be biased against any party.

But opposition parties, dissolved when Mr Bashir came to power in a coup ten years ago, say they should not have to ask permission to operate -- particularly as they would have to adhere to a new constitution which they say reflects only the views of the Islamist government.