January 4, 2009
MAN, ARE WE GOING TO MISS HIM:
A leading political rival of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's embattled president, is to hold talks with President George Bush in Washington today, in what will be seen by ruling circles in Khartoum as further evidence of US attempts to foment regime change in Sudan.Salva Kiir, a former rebel leader in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) who is now president of semi-autonomous southern Sudan, will discuss implementation of the 2005 north-south Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and other issues during a White House meeting, officials said.
Kiir, who also serves as vice-president in Khartoum's national unity government, is widely expected to run against Bashir for the presidency in CPA-mandated national elections scheduled for later this year.
The White House meeting comes shortly before the international criminal court is expected to issue a warrant for Bashir's arrest over genocide in Darfur.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=a67713e0-fd25-4455-bd4b-cacf939b3337)