Sudan Enacts Electoral Law in Preparation for Polls

Sudan’s parliament passed a new electoral law Monday in readiness for national elections as agreed in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between Khartoum and South Sudan. The new law guarantees women 25 per cent of all parliamentary seats and stipulates that the elections be held no later than 2009. A new electoral commission is also expected to be in place before August. [PE]