World Bulletin / News Desk

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday vowed to let political forces practice their activities freely across the country, according to state television.

Al-Bashir also ordered the release of all political detainees who have not been found guilty of committing any criminal offence.

The Sudanese leaders also offered guarantees to the leaders of Sudanese rebel group to join national dialogue inside Sudan.

According to the state television, the decisions were taken during a meeting between Bashir and the leaders of opposition parties.

They discussed forming an appropriate mechanism to supervise the national dialogue which Bashir proposed in January as part of a wider reform plan.

Umma party leader al-Sadeq al-Mahdi called for the formation of a neutral body to investigate corruption.

He also called for a transitional government to implement the agreed-upon reforms.

Congress party leader Hassan al-Turabi, for his part, urged more freedoms for the Sudanese people and the political parties.

He called for more efforts to meet the urgent needs of the ordinary people.

The meeting was also attended by reformist leader Dr. Ghazi Salahudeen, who defected from the ruling party in October.

Sudan has remained on edge since the government announced a raft of austerity measures last September, including a major reduction of fuel subsidies.

The move aimed to rein in a widening budget deficit and curb government spending.

Several people were killed and injured in mass protests against the measures countrywide.