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U.S. welcomes Sudan power-sharing deal as 'important step forward'
Sudanese people chant slogans and wave their national flag as they celebrate, after Sudan's ruling military council and a coalition of opposition and protest groups reached an agreement to share power during a transition period leading to elections, along the streets of Khartoum, Sudan, July 5, 2019. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
07/07/2019
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday welcomed a provisional agreement forged by Sudan's ruling military council and a coalition of opposition and protest groups to share power for three years as an "important step forward."
The U.S. State Department said in statement that special envoy for Sudan Donald Booth will return to the region soon.
The agreement brokered by the African Union and Ethiopia Union, announced on Friday, is due to be finalized on Monday.
"The agreement between the Forces for Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Council to establish a sovereign council is an important step forward," the State Department said. "We look forward to immediate resumption of access to the internet, establishment of the new legislature, accountability for the violent suppression of peaceful protests, and progress toward free and fair elections."
The deal revived hopes for a peaceful transition of power in a country plagued by internal conflicts and years of economic crisis that helped to trigger the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in April.
Relations between the military council that took over from Bashir and the Forces for Freedom and Change alliance broke down when security forces killed dozens of people as they cleared a sit-in on June 3. But after huge protests against the military on Sunday, African mediators brokered a return to direct talks.
(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Will Dunham)
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