KHARTOUM, March 31 (XINHUA) -- Sudan People's Liberation Movement's Yasir Arman withdrew from the presidential elections in Sudan, the SPLM said on Wednesday.

"The SPLM will withdraw its candidate Arman from the presidential elections and he will enter general elections in 11 northern states but boycott them in the three states of the western Sudan region of Darfur," Riak Machar, the deputy chief of the SPLM, said during a press conference held in Khartoum on Wednesday.

Machar linked the SPLM's "ultimate stance" to the outcome of the meetings of the opposition powers calling for postponing the elections.

He, however, did not reveal the reasons behind the movement's decision but referred to "understandings" with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

He refused that the decision be termed as a "deal" between the two ruling partners in Sudan. The SPLM politburo had held a meeting in Juba, southern Sudan, to settle a recent row over holding or canceling the elections, slated for next April.

The movement adopts a stand supportive of Sudan's opposition powers' demands to put off the election so as to reach a political settlement for the Darfur crisis and give the election commission a chance to prepare for the voting process that would be held for the first time in 24 years.

Sudan's opposition parties are to meet on Thursday to forge a final position regarding the election. The NCP, which had rejected calls for postponing the election or linking them to a settlement for the Darfur crisis, did not comment on the SPLM's decision.