Sudan protesters, military sign power-sharing agreement

Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance initialed a constitutional declaration on Sunday.

The document was signed in the capital Khartoum by TMC deputy head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and FFC member Ahmed Rabiaa.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, African Union mediator Mohamed Elhassan Lebatt said the deal sets arrangements for the formation of Sudanese institutions, including a sovereign council, which will run the country during a three-year transitional period.

He said the two sides will put their final signatures on the pact on Aug. 17 in the presence of leaders of neighboring countries.

Dagalo, for his part, reiterated the TMC commitment to implementing the agreement.

"In this historic moment, we confirm our commitment to the implementation of this declaration," he said.

Omer Aldigiar, the leader of the Sudanese Congress Party, said one of the main tasks of the transition period would be to bring killers of protesters to justice.

"We are looking forward to enforcing justice and bringing the killers of protesters to justice as well as restoring peace in war-torn areas," he said.

The TMC and FFC reached a power-sharing deal on Friday after marathon talks between the two sides.

Sudan has remained in turmoil since April 11, when the military establishment announced long-serving President Omar Bashir's removal after months of popular protests against his 30-year rule.