2009-11-22
(Xinhua) -- Sudan's First Vice-President and President of southern Sudan government Salva Kiir Mayardit said Saturday that Sudan's general elections would be held on its fixed time in April 2010.

"The elections will be held as scheduled in April next year, but regarding the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan and its governing law, the matter is still under consultation between the two government partners, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)," said Kiir in press statements following his meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum.

He said he acquainted al-Bashir with outcomes of his European tour, which took him to Belgium, Netherlands and France.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese official said the government of southern Sudan was working to end the tribal conflicts in the region and accused parties, which he did not name, of igniting the tribal tension in the south.

"We are working to end these tribal conflicts. They are simple and normal conflicts that should not be exaggerated. They occur in all areas of the world," he said.

The NCP and the SPLM differ over some bills concerning the general elections and the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan which is scheduled for 2011.

However, the bill on the referendum constitutes the major point of difference between the two sides. A joint political committee between them is embarked on discussions to reach a consensus on the bill.