Sudan elections 'to go ahead'

Opposition candidates have withdrawn from the presidential race claiming it will be rigged [AFP]

Sudan's controversial elections will go ahead this month, the deputy head of the country's election commission has said.

The announcement came less than a day after one of Sudan's largest opposition parties said it would not take part in the polls unless the government agreed to a four-week delay to the vote.

"The National Elections Commission (NEC) is working to have the elections on the dates we specified on April 11, 12, 13," Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah of the NEC told reporters on Saturday.

The opposition Umma Party had said that unless the government met eight key demands, including a delay to the vote by April 6, it would boycott all parts of the presidential and legislative elections.

If it follows through on its threat, the party will join other major opposition groups who have withdrawn candidates from the presidential race in protest against the vote they say is "rigged" in favour of Omar al-Bashir, the incumbent president

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The UN warns that the situation between rebel and government forces is escalating in Sudan's Darfur region, with both sides massing troops, raising fears of more violence - just a day after the US announced a new policy towards peace in the shattered region.

The Obama administration offers 'incentives' to the Sudanese government to end conflicts across the country if the government reliefs the plight of their people.

But if Sudan did not act to improve the situation on the ground to establish long-term peace, the US said there would be stronger consequences and increased pressure imposed by the US and the international community.

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 Watch Enough's Policy Advisor Colin Thomas-Jensen's appearance on The Riz Khan Show.