KHARTOUM, SUDAN ( FILMED 11- 12 DECEMBER 1964) (REUTERS - WILLIAM MCCONVILLE)

GTV KHARTOUM (3 SHOTS)/ SKYLINE

SV PEOPLE IN STREET

BV DONKEY CARRYING HEAVY LOAD

SV SHOT THROUGH CAR WINDOW. PEOPLE IN STREET

ANGLE SHOT OF MOSQUE (SOF OF CALL TO PRAYER)

VARIOUS SCENES INSIDE MOSQUE, MEN KNEELING & CHANTING (SOF)

SV MEN KNEELING OUTSIDE (SOF)

SSV MEN KNEELING

ANGLE SHOT MOSQUE

LV MAN OUTSIDE MOSQUE (SOF)

TILT DOWN MOSQUE TO MEN OUTSIDE

GV STREET SCENE
Background: THIS SPECIAL SITUATION REPORT WAS FILMED IN THE SUDAN LAST WEEKEND (11 - 12 DECEMBER 1964) BY VISNEWS CAMERAMEN WILLIAM MCCONVILLE. IT INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE SOF STATEMENTS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR SERR EL KHATEM EL KHALIFA, AND THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, MR CLEMENT MBORO.

KHARTOUM, THE CAPITAL, IS PEACEFUL TODAY (20 DECEMBER 1964) DESPITE FEARS OF A REPETITION OF THE BITTER RIOTS OF RECENT MONTHS. THE OVER RIDING PROBLEM FOR THE NEW "NATIONAL FRONT" GOVERNMENT IS TO FIND A COMPROMISE ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH THE ARABS OF THE NORTH AND THE NEGROES OF THE SOUTH.

THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT'S INABILITY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION WHICH DESTROYED PRESIDENT IBRAHIM ABBOUD'S MILITARY REGIME AND RESTORED CIVILIAN RULE TO THE SUDAN AFTER SIX YEARS.

BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH NOW SEEM TO BE HARDENING THEIR POSITIONS. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOUTH, AT PRESENT IN KAMPALA, UGANDA, HAVE REFUSED TO MEET TOW VISITING SUDANESE MINISTERS FOR PEACE TALKS. AND SOUTHERN LEADERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE SUDAN HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR OUTRIGHT SECESSION FROM THE NORTH.

THE SOUTHERNERS NOW IN KAMPALA ARE LEADERS OF THE SUDAN AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION (SANU). THEY HAVE REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT, AT THE SAME TIME DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE. THEY HAVE DESCRIBED AS A "TRICK" A GENERAL AMNESTY GUARANTEEING THEIR FREEDOM SHOULD THEY RETURN TO TAKE PART IN THE GENERAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH.

THE PRIME MINISTER, WHO LIVED FOR SIX YEARS IN THE SOUTH, RECENTLY RE-VISITED THE AREA IN AN ATTEMPT TO RE-ESTABLISH THE GOODWILL WHICH WAS SHATTERED BY THE SEVERE RIOTING IN KHARTOUM ON DECEMBER 6. IN HIS STATEMENT FOR VISNEWS AT MIDNIGHT LAST SATURDAY, MR KHALIFA SPOKE OF THE PROBLEM AND HIS HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.

AND MR CLEMENT MBORO HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE THE PRESENT CARETAKER ADMINISTRATION:
NORTHERN LEADERS SAY THAT THE PRESENT PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT. IT WAS APPOINTED ONLY TO ARRANGE ELECTIONS, THEY SAY. UNTIL THESE TAKE PLACE, THEY GO ON, THERE CAN BE NO LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OF EITHER NORTH OR SOUTH TO DISCUSS THE CONSTITUTIONAL FUTURE OF THE SUDAN.

MEANWHILE, THE RECENT RIOTS IN KHARTOUM HAVE NOT STOPPED PLANS GOING AHEAD FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH'S STATE VISIT IN FEBRUARY. ONE OF HER OFFICIAL DUTIES WILL BE TO OPEN A BRITISH-BUILT BRIDGE SPANNING THE JUNCTION OF THE WHITE NILE AND THE BLUE NILE RIVERS.

SHE WILL STAY AT THE PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC, A FINE RIVER-FRONT BUILDING WHICH WAS THE RESIDENCE OF THE GOVERNORS-GENERAL DURING THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN RULE FROM 1899 TO 1956. IT CONTAINS MANY RELICS OF THE BATTLES DURING THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN CONQUEST.

AFTER THE ROYAL VISIT, THE SUDAN WILL PREPARE FOR A CRITICAL ELECTION, HOPING FOR A STRONG GOVERNMENT TO MEND THE CURRENT RIFTS. MR KHALIFA IS CONTINUING WITH HIS POLICY OF PEACEFUL NEGOTIATION -- A POLICY THAT COULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SOUTHERN SUDAN.