Khartoum: Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir
said on Wednesday he would grant former US president Jimmy Carter and
his election observers unlimited access in the country during
landmark elections that kick off Sunday.
"In two days, President Carter will arrive and I will
receive him and will give him and his centre permission to go
to any area of Sudan and to monitor any area in Sudan," Beshir
told a rally north of Sudan, as the election campaign begins
to wind down.
"This man did good things for us and we never forget the
man who did good things for us," Beshir said in an address
broadcast live on state television.
It appeared to be a shift in tone after repeated threats
by Beshir to expel observers if they were believed "to
interfere" in the electoral process.
Sudan is to hold its first multi-party general election
since 1986 from April 9-11, which will include presidential,
legislative and local polls.
Beshir has previously said he would silence any observers
who "insult us", and he also warned that if observers
"intervene in our affairs, then we will cut off their fingers
and crush them under our shoes."
The American Carter Centre, the European Union, the
African Union, the Arab League and Japan are all sending
missions to Sudan.
PTI
