20091201

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Discontent young Sudanese are campaigning for change in what will be for many the first multi-party elections in their lifetime, urging the opposition to unite against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

"We're fed up!" read thousands of bright orange leaflets appearing all over the capital, in defiance of a long-standing ban on anti-government papers by the government which took power in a coup more than 20 years ago.

Groups of young Sudanese, forming on the Internet and on the streets, are calling on the splintered opposition to unite at all levels of the elections, presidential and parliamentary, against the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Some youths distribute leaflets under the radar, throwing them onto buses before running off. A supporter of one group, Girifna, has already been arrested. Others work in the open, saying they are exercising their constitutional rights.

"I'm only worried that they would take away my leaflets, not that anything might happen to me," said 21-year-old student Siraj Omar, a founder of Girifna, which means "We're fed up".

Members contribute money for the printing with some help from Sudanese expatriates, so every last piece of paper is valuable.

"Everything I have is hanging on this election," said Omar.

Opposition parties say they have suffered threats from Bashir's government over the years and many of his opponents have fled the country. They say his party committed widespread rights violations and atrocities throughout the country.