Saudi Arabia welcomes Sudan agreement on constitutional declaration

RIYADH, Aug 4 (MENA) - Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the final agreement reached in Sudan on the constitutional declaration of governance for the transitional period, a reliable source at the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.

The source described the agreement as a categorical leap that would move Sudan towards achieving security, peace and stability, praising the efforts exerted by all parties involved to achieve the national interests and open a new page in the country's history.

He also asserted that the Kingdom would stand by Sudan and continuously support its moves to maintain security and peace nationwide.

The agreement was signed between Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council and the “Forces of Freedom and Change” earlier in the day.

The document outlines the relationship between the transitional government's branches comes after weeks of negotiations overseen by the AU and Ethiopia following violent responses from Sudan's security forces to the opposition's protests.

The declaration reportedly says that the opposition coalition will appoint a prime minister as soon as the document is signed. The prime minister will then form a new, transitional government, which will consist of a 300-member legislative assembly.

Once the government begins its work, Sudan will start its three-year transition period that is to culminate in free elections.