The National Umma Party, Sudan’s main opposition group and supporter of the protest movement, rejected a call by a section of fellow protest groups to hold a general strike following a stalemate in talks with the ruling military council.
A general strike was called for two days in private and public enterprises as a way to pressure the military rulers to hand over power to civilians. The strike was set to start on Tuesday.
The National Umma Party argued that such decisions must be made by a council of leaders of the protest movement.
“A general strike is a weapon that should be used after it is agreed upon by everybody. We have to avoid such escalated statements that are not fully agreed,” the Umma Party said.
The party added that such a council was still not in place and is expected be composed in a meeting on Monday.
The National Umma Party is led by Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was prime minister of the elected-government that was ousted from power by Omar al-Bashir in 1989.
Sudan’s transitional military council and leaders of the protest movement failed to reach an agreement following a fresh round of talks at the presidential palace over the new sovereign council.
According to a joint statement issued by both parties, the dispute remains the constitution of the council that is supposed to rule Sudan for a three-year transitional period. The council is expected to form a transitional civilian government ahead of the country’s first elections following the ouster of Omar al-Bashir.
The talks also stalled over whether a civilian or a soldier should lead the council.
Neither the TMC nor the protest movement commented on when the talks would resume.
