1.
GV COUNCIL OF MINISTERS BUILDING
0.07

2.
CU SIGNS AS ABOVE
0.11

3.
SCU PRIME MINISTER SEATED AT DESK... SOF STARTS: "I AM GRATEFUL TO VISNEWS... SOF ENDS: ".... MILITARY REGIME."
2.12

4.
CU PRIME MINISTER SOF STARTS: "WITH REGARD TO OUR RELATIONS.... SOF ENDS: ".... ELECTED GOVERNMENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH."
3.17


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 3: KHATEM EL KHALIFA: "I AM GRATEFUL FOR VISNEWS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SUDAN FOR A FEW MINUTES. DURING THE LAST 10 DAYS OF OCTOBER, GREAT CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE SUDAN. THE WHOLE PEOPLE, IN THE TOWNS, IN THE VILLAGES AND IN THE RURAL TOWNS ROSE AGAINST THE MILITARY REGIME WHICH EXISTED IN THE SUDAN FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. THE GREAT FACT ABOUT THE CHANGE HAS BEEN THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE SUDAN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE THAT DESPOTIC SYSTEM BY PEACEFUL MEANS. THE PRESENT PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WHICH I HAVE THE HONOUR TO BE PRIME MINISTER, AND WHICH DERIVES ITS POWER FORM THE 1956 CONSTITUTION, IS CHARGED UNDER THE NATIONAL CHARTER WITH SPECIFIC DUTIES. CHIEF AMONGST WHICH IS TO PREPARE FOR THE ELECTION OF A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, WHICH WILL WRITE THE PERMANENT CONSTITUTION OF THE SUDAN. IN ORDER TO DO THIS THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO RESTORE DEMOCRATIC LIFE, AND THAT IS BY THE REMOVAL OF ALL SIGNS OF MILITARY RULE AND THE ABOLITION OF ALL LAWS WHICH RESTRICT FREEDOM. THE CHANGE FROM SIX YEARS OF MILITARY RULE HAD, NATURALLY, BROUGHT WITH IT DIFFICULTIES, BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE ALL DIFFICULTIES WHICH ARE QUICKLY DISAPPEARING OWING TO THE RAPID PROCESS OF ADAPTATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE WHICH HAS BEEN INTERRUPTED FOR SIX YEARS BY A DICTATORIAL MILITARY REGIME. WITH REGARD TO OUR RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD, WE ARE A PEACEFUL NATION. WE BELIEVE IN THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION AND WE WILL WORK VERY HARD TO SUPPORT IT AND UPHOLD ITS PRINCIPLES. WE ALSO BELIEVE IN NON-ALIGNMENT AND IN FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL COUNTRIES. WE HAVE FOR , NATURALLY, SPECIAL RELATIONS WITH AFRICAN AND ARAB COUNTRIES WHICH ARE OUR NEIGHBOURS. I HOPE THAT WITH THE PRESENT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL POLICIES THE SUDAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO WORK ITS WAY AHEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL ELECTION, WHICH WILL BRING A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, WHICH WE HOPE WILL LEAD TO A PARLIAMENT AND A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH."




Initials DS/V/AW/PC DS/V/AW/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: KHATEM EL KHALIFA, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF THE SUDAN, HAS MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH SINCE ASSUMING OFFICE. IT WAS MADE FROM HIS OFFICE IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' BUILDING IN KHARTOUM, FOR VISNEWS.

CLAIMED TO BE THE YOUNGEST PRIME MINISTER IN THE WORLD, KHATEM EL KHALIFA IS A 3-YEARS-OLD FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER WHO HAILS FROM THE NORTH OF THE SUDAN. NOW HE HEADS A COALITION GOVERNMENT SWEPT INTO POWER BY OCTOBER'S RIOTS WHICH TOPPLED THE MILITARY REGIME HEADED BY PRESIDENT ABOUD.

THE ALL-PARTY GOVERNMENT FACES THE DIFFICULT TASK OF HEALING THE BREACH BETWEEN THE SUDAN'S TOW MAIN RACIAL GROUPS - THE NEGROES FORM THE SOUTH AND THE ARABS FROM THE NORTH. IT IS ALSO ENGAGING IN THE TASK OF REMOVING THE TRACES OF THE SIX YEAR MILITARY REGIME AND PREPARING FOR THE ELECTION OF A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF 1956... A POLITICAL ENTITY WHICH WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WRITING A PERMANENT CONSTITUTION FOR THE COUNTRY.