2010-04-02
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A day after pulling out of Sudan's presidential election, two leading opposition parties were split on Friday on whether to boycott voting on the same day for parliament and regional governorships.

Three sources told Reuters on Thursday that at least five political parties had decided to boycott all of the contests on April 11, alleging widespread fraud.

By shunning the presidential election, they aim to discredit incumbent Omar Hassan al-Bashir's bid to secure a new term in oil-producing Sudan, Africa's biggest country.

But two big opposition groups, the Umma and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), appeared divided on Friday on whether to boycott the other votes as well, adding to uncertainty that has blighted the elections.

U.S. Sudan envoy Scott Gration was in Khartoum to try to salvage the polls. He has so far been unable to reconcile the opposition and Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Any decision by the Umma and DUP to boycott all levels of elections would undermine the votes and may prompt international observers to reconsider their missions.

Two sources within the opposition told Reuters a decision on a full boycott from the Umma party was unlikely on Friday, with the rank and file split.

"Their lower ranks have invested time and personal money in their campaigns," said one source. "They may see a revolt if they go for a full boycott."

The DUP had told an opposition alliance meeting on Thursday it would boycott fully. But on Friday it also looked to be wavering, party sources said. The party has been in talks with both the opposition and the ruling NCP.

The move followed a shock announcement on Wednesday by south Sudan's leading party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), that it was withdrawing its presidential candidate Yasir Arman and boycotting all elections in the western Darfur region, citing ongoing conflict there and alleged fraud.

Arman was seen by many as the main challenger to Bashir, who is now almost certain to win the vote.

A senior official of Bashir's NCP mocked the opposition's tactics. "If you know beforehand that this is a lost contest, why waste your time and resources on a lost bet?" the official, Ibrahim Ghandour, told Reuters. "This does not affect the legitimacy of the contest."

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes during a brutal counter-insurgency campaign in Darfur. He rejects the court's jurisdiction.