New Sudan P.M. Wooing South

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 13

New Sudan P.M. Wooing South

(N .Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) KHARTOUM, November 18. Seer el-Khatim Khalifa’s Sudanese Government has taken more steps aimed at gaining Southern Sudanese confidence to pave the way for direct negotiations.

Sunday has been restored as the official weekly holiday in the south, instead of the Moslem Friday imposed by the recently-ousted military regime, and Christmas holidays for the southern Christians have been approved. Sixty-seven more southern prisoners have been released from gaol. At a reception for southern leaders here for talks, the Prime Minister expressed sadness at what had happened in the south during the last six years of military rule. Mr Khalifa—who referred to the south as the “number one problem of my Government”—and his Interior Minister, Mr Clement Mboro, a southerner, spoke of the need for security and stability in the south. I The southern leaders spoke

of their wish to take part in the affairs and development of their region, without mentioning any demands for local autonomy. The Christian and pagan southern Sudan has for several years demanded greater independence from the Moslem north. During the six years of General Ibrahim Abboud’s military regime there were several uprisings against the northern troops. Mr Mboro has added several southern-educated members to his delegation for his southern tour, beginning next Saturday, during which he will make his first direct contact with the rebels and hear their views. Mr Khalifa’s Cabinet has also decided to drop November 17—the anniversary of the military coup which brought General Abboud to power—as a national holiday.

Crawford In Katmandu.— Lynn Crawford, a New Zealand climber, and two other members of Sir Edmund Hillary’s schoolhouse expedition arrived in Katmandu today by light plane from the Solo Khumbu region near Mount Everest on their way home. Crawford, aged 26, from Christchurch, was one of four New Zealanders who conquered Tamserku, the hitherto unclimbed 21,730 ft peak near Everest, on November 4. Katmandu, Nov. 18.