African Leaders warn of dangers in Sudan

[Sudan crisis]

* Possibility of possible secession between North and South Sudan

* A referendum might cause the north and south to split

Ithiopia: Heads of State and leaders of the African Union met in Addis Ababa to discuss the possibility of a potential secession between the north and the south in Sudan, a country affected by a serious crisis.

Tension has escalated in Africa’s largest country, where the results of a referendum might cause the north and south to split.

Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi pointed out that if the south splits from the north, it would run into great danger, because that region is neither strong nor united. Gaddafi noted that the south might be attacked to seize its natural resources, especially oil. President of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping, noted the political events and outbreak of violence in that country recently.

Sudanese President Omar al Bachir is one of the favourite candidates in the general elections, in which opposition leaders Sadeq al Mahdi and Yaser Armanare also running. Southern Sudan, where population is mainly Christian or professes autochthonous religions, initiated an armed conflict in 1983 and rejected the imposition of the Islamic law or Sharia.

Addis Ababa, Prensa Latina