Al-Bashir calls on armed groups for dialogue

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Saturday renewed his call for the armed groups to go to negotiation table to reach lasting solutions for the country's issues. "We reiterate once again that our efforts will continue for dialogue with the arms carriers who are willing to present their issues for reaching lasting solutions with which we can end the root-causes of difference and pave the way for opening a new page, " said al-Bashir when addressing the opening session of the second Economic Forum in Khartoum Saturday. "The development of the national economy requires resolution of the root-causes of armed and tribal conflicts," he noted. The second economic forum is scheduled to discuss issues of financial and economic policies, the sustainable regional development and the economic hardships facing the country, particularly after the separation of South Sudan. The two-day forum will be attended by local economic experts and experts from the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir vowed earlier this month to end all armed clashes and conflicts in all parts of Sudan by the end of 2014. Sudan's Defense Minister Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein last week declared a major military campaign aimed at ending the armed rebellion in Sudan's Darfur region and Blue Nile and South Kordofan states on the border with South Sudan.