Sudan Arrests Opposition Figures over New Alliance

Sudanese security forces have arrested two opposition figures who joined an alliance aimed at uniting opposition to the government, a member of one group that signed the document said Sunday.

The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) detained Farouk Abu Issa, head of the opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF), and civil activist Amin Makki Madani late Saturday, NCF official Siddig Youssif told AFP by telephone.

"We have had no communications with them and we do not know where they are," Youssif said.

It was not possible to reach the authorities for comment.

Issa and Madani signed a document in Addis Ababa on Wednesday aimed at uniting opposition to President Omar al-Bashir's 25-year rule.

Signatories included political parties, civil society groups and rebels.

Issa signed on behalf of the NCF, which groups a number of opposition parties, and Madani signed for several civil society organizations.

The document called for a transitional government in Sudan.

Bashir seized power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989 and announced in October that he would seek reelection in April.

In January, he announced a national dialogue aimed at ending the conflicts wracking South Kordofan and Blue Nile in southern Sudan and Darfur in the west, as well as tackling the troubled economy.