Sudanese Islamic leader ready to meet exiled opposition

The Islamic leader of Sudan, Hassan Abdallah Al-Turabi, has said he is willing to meet exiled leaders of the opposition from the north of the country, including the former prime minister, Sadeq El-Mahdi.

Mr Al-Turabi, who is speaker of the parliament and a principal supporter of the Islamic regime of President El-Bashir, made the comment in talks with members of the Sudanese reconciliation group, the Popular Organisation for National Dialogue.

The group said it had discussed with Mr Al-Turabi its proposals for a settlement between the government and opposition forces.

In recent months the northern Sudanese opposition in exile has formed an alliance with southern rebels fighting for more autonomy for their Christian and animist region.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service