Sudans Bashir names ally prime minister ruling party official

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir named his first vice president and long-time ally Hassan Saleh to the newly-created post of prime minister, the ruling party’s deputy leader said on Wednesday.

“The party leadership meeting chaired by President Bashir approved the nomination of Hassan Saleh as prime minister and his retention of the post of first vice president,” National Congress Party Deputy Leader Ibrahim Mahmoud told reporters.

Saleh will be sworn in on Thursday and immediately start negotiations on forming a new cabinet, Mahmoud said.