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PRESS TV

As Sudan braces for its first multiparty elections in 24 years, the South's 2011 independence referendum has been dragged into the mounting pre-election concerns.

Sudan's opposition joined forces on Monday to express rigging concerns over the government's printing of ballot papers and demanded a review of procedures for the landmark elections due next month.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has hired a state printing company, the Sudanese Currency Printing Press, to issue ballot papers.
Further revelations on Monday showed that the NEC was contracting the same Khartoum-owned company to print voter registration books.

Meanwhile, President Omar al-Bashir issued a warning in response to speculations that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) would push to delay or boycott the vote.

He said such a move by the former southern rebels would jeopardize the south's 2011 referendum on independence.

"If the SPLM boycotts the elections, we will reject the referendum," Bashir said in comments carried on local television.

However, a senior party member told AFP on Monday that the SPLM was ready for the election as any further delays would hamper preparations for the January referendum.

SPLM leader Anne Ito also stressed that the printing would give the ruling northern National Congress Party (NCP) a chance to rig the poll, adding that the election committee would have to provide assurances that the vote would be free and fair.

Earlier this month, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky voiced concern that a series of technical challenges to the vote could undermine the fairness of the electoral process.

Among the main obstacles are transporting election materials in areas with little infrastructure as well as managing to recruit and train tens of thousands of poll workers.