国际英语新闻：AU panel presents new proposals on Sudan's disputed Abyei region

KHARTOUM, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on Sudan announced Saturday that it has presented new proposals to Sudan's National Congress Party (NCP) and People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on how to resolve the issue of Abyei.

"As we have agreed with them (the NCP and the SPLM), we presented the two sides a document of proposals on how to resolve the matter of Abyei," Thabo Mbeki, head of the AU panel, told reporters here after he met with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Ali Osman Mohamed Taha.

However, Mbeki did not disclose details of the proposals, saying that for the time being, the proposals were for the parties to discuss.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) and First Vice President and President of the southern Sudanese government Salvakiir Mayardit (R) hold talks with Head of the African Union panel on Sudan and former South African President Thabo Mbeki on ways to resolve the suspending issues between northern and southern Sudan before the upcoming referendum in the semi-autonomous south, in Khartoum, Sudan, Nov. 27, 2010.

Mbeki said that as soon as the Sudanese officials return from the AU-EU summit and the AU Peace and Security Council summit in Libya, the parties will complete the study of the proposals.

During the meeting, the two sides expressed commitment to studying the proposals in details and presenting their responses in time, said Mbeki.

He expressed optimism that the two parties would reach a solution to the Abyei matter, saying that "with these proposals I think we have taken the first important step towards that outcome. "

A referendum is expected to be conducted at the country's disputed oil-rich area of Abyei to decide whether the area should be part of north or south Sudan. The Abyei referendum is supposed to be conducted together with the south Sudan referendum slated for Jan. 9, 2011, as stipulated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) inked between north and south Sudan in 2005.