Sudan transitional period may be shortened: UN diplomat

By Michael Hernandez</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – A two-year transitional period planned by the Sudanese military following its removal of longtime President Omar al-Bashir could be shortened, Sudan's UN charge d'affairs said Friday. </p> <p>Yasir Abdelsalam did not elaborate on what conditions would facilitate the easing of the military's timeframe while addressing reporters at the UN's New York headquarters after a Security Council meeting. But he said the events following al-Bashir's ouster are &quot;a domestic matter&quot; dependent on &quot;the will of the Sudanese people.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Any democratic process requires time and that should not be threatened,&quot; Abdelsalam said. &quot;We call on our partners in the international community to support peaceful transition in the country in a way that would help open the path to stability and prosperity.&quot;</p> <p>The Sudanese military on Thursday announced the removal of al-Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since 1989, following months of popular protests against his rule. </p> <p>It also announced the imposition of a two-year transitional phase to be overseen by the transitional council run by the military.</p> <p>The Sudanese Professional Association on Friday called on the council to immediately relinquish executive authority to a civilian government.</p> <p>In a statement, the group described the council's assumption of power as “absurd theater”.</p> <p>“Our position is based on the Sudanese people's experience dealing with the regime’s longstanding practice of using deception and theater,” it said.</p> <p>Accusing the military council of protecting the interests of Sudan’s deep state “under a different guise”, the association vowed to peacefully resist an army-imposed curfew and state of emergency.</p> <p>*Betul Yuruk contributed to this report from the United Nations